Rob Walter, the Proteas’ white-ball coach, revealed his 15-man roster for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, which will take place in the West Indies and the United States from June 1 to 29.
Aiden Markram will lead the team in his first World Cup appearance as captain. Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman are both making their T20I debuts for South Africa.
Former captain Temba Bavuma and veteran Faf du Plessis did not make the squad, and Lungi Ngidi was also left out.Rickelton finished as the leading run-scorer in the second edition of the SA20, scoring 530 runs at an average of 58.88 for MI Cape Town, while fast-bowler Baartman took 18 wickets in eight matches for defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is currently playing for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
The Proteas will also benefit from the experience of batsmen Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs, who has had a successful IPL career with the Delhi Capitals.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will spearhead the pace attack, followed by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. Other notable selections were CSA T20 Challenge winning skipper Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi, all front-line spinners.
Nandre Burger and Ngidi have been picked as the travelling reserves.
South Africa squad – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup:
Aiden Markram (captain, Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Marco Jansen (Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (Lions) Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans) and Tristan Stubbs (Warriors)
Travelling Reserves: Nandre Burger (Western Province) and Lungi Ngidi (Titans)
Proteas’ T20 World Cup group schedule:
Monday, 3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa in New York (16:30 SA time)
Saturday, 8 June – Netherlands v South Africa in New York (16:30 SA time)
Monday, 10 June – South Africa v Bangladesh in New York (16:30 SA time)
Saturday, 15 June – Nepal v South Africa in Kingstown (01:30 SA time)
