South Africa’s Champions Trophy Squad Welcomes Nortje and Ngidi Back
South Africa’s Champions Trophy squad
Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Vian Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.
South Africa has welcomed back pace bowlers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi into the ODI squad for the Champions Trophy after recovering from injuries. The Proteas have selected a squad comprising five pacers and three spinners.
On Monday, Cricket South Africa (CSA) named a 15-member squad under the leadership of Temba Bavuma for the tournament in Pakistan. All-rounder Vian Mulder, who missed the recent home series against Pakistan due to injury, also returns. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was ruled out of that series with an Achilles injury, is also back in the fold.
Nortje has not played for South Africa since the T20 World Cup in June. He was the team’s highest wicket-taker in that tournament, with 15 wickets in 9 matches. After suffering a broken toe, he was unable to play in the series against Pakistan. The 31-year-old last played an ODI for South Africa in September 2023.
Ngidi, 28, missed the series against Pakistan due to an Achilles injury. He made his competitive return last Saturday in the SA T20 competition.
Gerald Coetzee, who featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is not included in the Champions Trophy squad. It is believed that he has not yet recovered from an Achilles injury sustained during the first Test against Sri Lanka. All-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, Corbin Bosch, and left-arm spinner Bian Fortuin have also not made the squad.
In the pace department, alongside all-rounders Marco Jansen and Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Nortje, and Ngidi make up the fast-bowling contingent. For spin, Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi are the specialist spinners, with Aiden Markram also available for off-spin duties if needed.
South Africa’s Champions Trophy campaign will begin on February 21 in Karachi against Afghanistan. However, South Africa’s Sports Minister, Mthethwa Gaëtan, has called for a boycott of the match in protest of the discriminatory treatment of women in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power.
In Group B, South Africa will also face England and Australia. Before the Champions Trophy, the Proteas will play a tri-nation series involving Pakistan and New Zealand.
