By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
The debate around South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad refuses to fade, and at its centre stands Ottneil Baartman, a bowler whose performances are making his exclusion increasingly difficult to justify.
Baartman delivered yet another reminder of his value on Thursday night, claiming a hat trick and finishing with five for sixteen as Paarl Royals surged to the top of the SA20 table with a commanding win over Pretoria Capitals in Centurion. It was not a one off. It was a continuation of a pattern that has defined his career in this competition.
Despite being the leading wicket taker in the history of the SA20 and currently the standout bowler of the season, Baartman has been overlooked for South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in India and Sri Lanka. The decision has sparked growing unease among former players, current teammates and supporters, particularly as Baartman continues to outperform those selected ahead of him.
What has added further weight to the debate is the lack of clarity surrounding his omission. Speaking after the match, Baartman revealed that he has received no direct explanation from the national setup.
“The World Cup is a different story,” he said. “All I can do is wish them all the very best on their journey and hope they win it. I was not too disappointed because I did not think I was going to be picked. I did not have conversations with the coaches or selectors. Nobody spoke to me, so I do not know why I was not chosen.”
That sense of uncertainty was reinforced when Baartman was asked directly by Fullview post match whether he knew what he needed to do to force his way back into the squad. “Like I said, nobody spoke to me,” he replied. “So I did not have that conversation. I do not know why I was not chosen to play.”
This comes despite Baartman being part of South Africa’s T20 international squad that toured India in December, where he finished as the side’s third highest wicket taker. It was also the last time, he says, that he had any contact with selectors. While Cricket South Africa has since indicated that Baartman is on a reserve list should injuries arise, the silence around performance benchmarks has raised questions about transparency and consistency.
Fullview also spoke to several players in and around the Proteas squad, all of whom indicated that communication from head coach Shukri Conrad had generally been clear and accessible. While Conrad is not known as a coach who routinely approaches players to explain non selection or outline improvement areas unprompted, those players said he has consistently been direct, open and honest when clarity was sought. That context has only sharpened the focus on Baartman’s situation, where no such conversation appears to have taken place, leaving one of South Africa’s most in-form bowlers without answers as the World Cup approaches.
Former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn has been among the most vocal critics of the decision. As Baartman ripped through the Capitals batting line up, Steyn took to social media to question why selections were finalised before the conclusion of the SA20, arguing that current form was being ignored while pressure mounted on those already named.
Baartman’s case has also been championed from within the current squad. Pretoria Capitals captain and Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj was emphatic in his praise, describing Baartman as a world class operator. “People talk about X factor and he has it,” Maharaj said. “He holds his length for long periods, does not leave the stumps and understands conditions very quickly. He has shown at international level that he can change a game. He is the best death bowler in the country.”
The numbers support that assessment. Baartman now has fifty-seven wickets in thirty SA20 matches at an economy rate just over eight, and this season he is averaging under ten runs per wicket. Few bowlers in the tournament’s short history can match that level of sustained impact.
Baartman’s omission is not the only selection call under scrutiny. Ryan Rickelton, the leading run scorer in the SA20, has also been left out, while Tristan Stubbs misses out despite his growing reputation as a high impact middle order batter. In Rickelton’s case, Tony de Zorzi has been preferred, though he is currently sidelined through injury, further complicating the narrative around selection certainty. The final squad of 15 players must be submitted on the 31st of January 2026.
For Baartman, the disappointment is softened by perspective shaped long before professional cricket. Raised in Oudtshoorn by a single mother who prioritised feeding her children above all else, his motivation remains rooted in family.
He dedicated his SA20 hattrick to his wife and children, acknowledging the sacrifices made during months spent moving between leagues and countries. “I am assuming my wife, daughter and son are screaming back home now,” he said. “I have hardly seen them for the last four months. They sacrifice a lot, but they support me all the time.”