South Africa have announced their 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to take place in the United States and West Indies from June 1.
Among the notable inclusions are fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who returns to the T20 international scene after a year-long hiatus due to injuries, and the uncapped pair of batter Ryan Rickelton and seamer Ottniel Baartman.
Nortje's comeback is eagerly anticipated despite his recent struggles in the Indian Premier League, where he recorded a concerning economy rate of 13.36 runs per over across six matches. Meanwhile, Rickelton's impressive performances in the SA20 competition, where he emerged as the top scorer with 530 runs at an average of 58.88, have earned him a well-deserved call-up. Baartman's commendable tally of 18 wickets in eight T20 matches further strengthens South Africa's bowling arsenal.
Leading the squad will be Aiden Markram, who will have the firepower of seasoned hitters such as Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Tristan Stubbs at his disposal. In a strategic move, South Africa has opted for three frontline spinners: Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi, with Markram himself offering a useful slow bowling option.
Reflecting on the squad selection, South Africa's white-ball coach Rob Walter acknowledged the challenge of narrowing down the options in the midst of recent T20 cricket action but expressed confidence in the chosen squad's ability to compete at the highest level. The team will gear up for the tournament with a three-match T20 series in the West Indies.
In Group D of the T20 World Cup, South Africa will face Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. They kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka in New York on June 3, aiming to make a mark in a tournament where they have yet to clinch the title in either the 50- or 20-over format.
SQUAD
Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi and Tristan Stubbs.
