South Africa name stand-in captain for T20I series against Pakistan
Aiden Markram will miss the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting 10 December.
Heinrich Klaasen will lead South Africa in the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan as the Proteas announced their 15-member squad.
Regular skipper Aiden Markram is currently engaged in the Test series against Sri Lanka and has been rested due to the tight schedule between the third Test and the T20Is. Besides Markram, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs will also miss the T20I series as they are also involved in the ongoing Test series.
Despite the absence of key players, South Africa’s T20I squad boasts plenty of firepower, with Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi returning for the first time since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
WATCH: The best of Anrich Nortje at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
Anrich Nortje has led the way with the ball for South Africa this ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
All-rounder George Linde is also back in the T20I setup after a three-year gap, having last featured in 2021. Linde was in exceptional form during the CSA T20 Challenge, aggregating 171 runs at a strike rate of 178.12 and taking nine wickets at an impressive average of 18.33.
Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.
Speaking about the squad, South Africa’s white-ball head coach Rob Walter said: “All 15 players are capped, and we’re looking to build on the experience within the group as we continue to grow as a unit.
“In the absence of Aiden, Heinrich will lead the team. He is a vastly experienced player with a strong understanding and reading of the game. We look forward to utilising him in this role after his previous experiences in 2021.
ALSO READ: Pakistan name squads for all-format tour of South Africa
"We have also given George an opportunity again. He really earned his spot off the back of a strong domestic campaign, and his skills as a spinning all-rounder add important balance to the team."We're pleased to have Anrich and Tabraiz back in the squad. Their wealth of experience and skill significantly bolsters our bowling unit, enhancing both our pace and spin departments, which will be key against a strong Pakistan side.”
T20I Series Schedule:
First T20I, December 10, Durban
Second T20I, December 13, Centurion
Third T20I, December 14, Johannesburg