South Africa has announced a largely refreshed squad for the tri-nation T20 series in Zimbabwe.
The doors have opened once again for Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger to represent the national team. After a long absence, both pacers are included in South Africa’s squad for the tri-series taking place in Zimbabwe.
The tri-nation series, featuring hosts Zimbabwe, South Africa, and New Zealand, will be held in mid-July in Harare. On Thursday, South Africa named a 14-man squad for the tournament.
Coetzee has been out of action for a long time due to a hamstring injury, while Burger has been sidelined with a lower back stress fracture. Both are making their international comebacks after 8 and 11 months respectively.
Regular captain Aiden Markram, batsmen Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and David Miller, all-rounder Marco Jansen, pacer Kagiso Rabada, and experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (who is with the Test squad) have all been rested.
Anrich Nortje has once again been ruled out with a back injury and was not considered. South Africa coach Shukri Conrad confirmed that the fast bowler is sidelined indefinitely.
In Markram’s absence, Rassie van der Dussen will lead the Proteas in the series. Van der Dussen has previously captained the national team during the West Indies tour before last year’s T20 World Cup.
Among the experienced players, only van der Dussen, Riza Hendricks, and Lungi Ngidi are in the squad. South Africa has also included four players awaiting their international T20 debut, two of whom have yet to make their international debut in any format.
One promising newcomer is 19-year-old aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Luan Dre Pretorius, who has shone in domestic cricket. He has played 38 T20 matches, scoring 1,021 runs at a strike rate of 146.48.
Another fresh face is keeper-batsman Rubin Hermann, who has scored 1,118 runs in 46 T20 games at a strike rate of 131.83, including one century and six fifties.
Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy has played four Tests and two ODIs but is still awaiting his T20 international debut. He has taken 65 wickets in 88 T20 matches domestically and is also handy with the bat, scoring 1,183 runs at a strike rate of 112.77 with five fifties.
Pacer Corbin Bosch, who has played one Test and one ODI, has appeared in 89 T20 matches, bowling 76 innings and taking 60 wickets.
The tri-series will begin on July 14.
South Africa T20 Squad
Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Riza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kuda Mafakaz, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nabuyomzi Peter, Luan Dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane.
