By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter on Tuesday named his 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled from 1-29 June in the West Indies and USA.
Aiden Markram will lead the side in his first World Cup assignment since being named T20 International captain.
The squad includes two uncapped T20I players – Lions batter Ryan Rickelton and Dolphins fast bowler Ottniel Baartman.
Rickelton finished as the leading run-scorer of the second edition of the Betway SA20 with 530 runs at an average of 58.88 for MI Cape Town. At the same time, Baartman took 18 wickets in eight matches for defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is currently with Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals.
The team will also benefit from the expertise of batters Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and the promising Tristan Stubbs.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will lead the pace attack, supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.
Other notable selections include three front-line spinners in CSA T20 Challenge winning captain Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Pace pair Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named as the travelling reserves.
“Selecting this group was extremely tough considering the amount of T20 cricket that has been played recently and the form that has been on show. I want to congratulate the two uncapped players, Ryan and Ottniel, on their selection,” coach Rob Walter said.
“We have seen some incredible performances from our players in 2024 and that made my job very tough indeed. I am nonetheless proud and confident that we have named the strongest possible squad that no doubt has every chance of success in the West Indies and USA.”
South Africa squad – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup West Indies and USA 2024
Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions) Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans) and Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors).
Travelling Reserves
Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province) and Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans)
Management
Rob Walter (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Jean-Paul Duminy (Batting Coach), Eric Simons (Bowling Coach), Wandile Gwavu (Fielding Coach), Thomas Dawson-Squibb (Performance Coach), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur) and Lucy Davey (Media Manager).
South Africa T20I provisional squad against West Indies
Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans) and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).