New Delhi, December 4 (IANS). Fast bowler Enrique Norkia and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi have been included in South Africa’s T20 squad for the first time after the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup for the upcoming series against Pakistan starting on December 10.
Wicketkeeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen will captain the South African team, which has come in a new form after losing the 3-1 series against India. Cricket South Africa (CSA) said captain Aiden Markram, Marco Jensen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Tristan Stubbs will not play in the T20 series due to the quick turnaround between the two series.
CSA said they will return for the ODI series against Pakistan in preparation for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy. All-rounder George Linde has also been included in the squad, marking his return to the T20 set-up after last playing against Ireland in July 2021.
Linde, 33, has earned 14 T20 caps, and had an impressive performance in this season’s CSA T20 Challenge, scoring 171 runs at a strike-rate of 178.12 and taking nine wickets at an average of 18.33.
The return of Enrique Norqua and Shamsi is a big deal, as they did not take central contracts and are playing in various franchise leagues around the world.
Linde, 33, has earned 14 T20 caps, and had an impressive performance in this season’s CSA T20 Challenge, scoring 171 runs at a strike-rate of 178.12 and taking nine wickets at an average of 18.33. The return of Nortje and Shamsi is a big deal, as they did not take central contracts and are playing in various franchise leagues around the world.
CSA also said that Shamsi’s participation in the ongoing Global Super League in Guyana could affect his availability for the first match of the T20 series. Whereas, Matthew Britzke, Kwena Mafaka and Ryan Rickelton will join South Africa’s squad after the second Test against Sri Lanka in Guatemala on 5-9 December.
The T20 team will begin preparations with a two-day camp at the Center of Excellence in Pretoria from 6-8 December, then move to Durban, where the first match will be played at the Kingsmead Stadium on 10 December, followed by SuperSport Park, Centurion and Sydney Stadium on 13 and 14 December. Two consecutive matches will be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
South Africa T20 squad: Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Otniel Baartman, Matthew Britzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Mfaka, David Miller, Anrich Norkea, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane and Rassie van der Dussen.
–IANS
AMJ/AS
