White-ball head coach Rob Walter has today announced a strong 15-player squad for the upcoming three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, scheduled from 17- 22 December.
DP World Lions seamer Kwena Maphaka has earned his maiden call-up to the 50-over setup. The 18-year-old, already capped in T20 Internationals, has displayed immense promise having been named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup earlier this year after taking 21 wickets at an average of 9.71.
His stocks have only continued to rise since then, propelling him into the senior national team where he has already featured four times for South Africa.
Maphaka will join Kagiso Rabada, who makes his return to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia in November. The squad also features Hollywoodbets Dolphins fast bowler Ottneil Baartman, alongside all-rounders Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo.
In the batting department, the squad, led by Temba Bavuma, is bolstered by the return of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, who last featured in an ODI in December 2023 against India.
The series begins on Tuesday, 17 December at Boland Park in Paarl. The second ODI will take place at World Sports Betting Newlands on Thursday, 19 December, followed by the annual Pink Day and final ODI on Sunday, 22 December at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
This series will serve as preparation ahead of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.
Commenting on the squad, Walter said: “We have named our strongest squad available, with each player capable of being a match-winner on their day, and we are extremely excited to see how this group performs together.
“The bowling line-up features one of the fastest in the game in KG, and this series offers another great opportunity for a young talent like Kwena to come in and learn first-hand from the best.
“In the batting department, we are thrilled to welcome back David and Heinrich, two of the most destructive players in the game.
“Overall, we are very pleased with this squad. This series will be crucial in fine-tuning our combinations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy next year, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Proteas ODI squad against Pakistan
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Marco Jansen (Renault North West Dragons), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Andile Phehlukwayo (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), and Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions).
