April 30th 2024.
The South African cricket team has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, which will take place in the USA and West Indies from June 1st to June 29th. Leading the charge will be Aiden Markram, who has been named as the T20I captain for the first time in his career. The squad includes some experienced players such as Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller, as well as promising talent in the form of Tristan Stubbs.
In addition to these players, the team also features two uncapped T20I players: Ryan Rickelton, a wicket-keeper batter who finished as the top run-scorer in the second edition of the SA20, and fast bowler Ottniel Baartman, who took 18 wickets in eight matches for defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is currently playing for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
"We have selected a strong and well-balanced team for the T20 World Cup," said head coach Rob Walter. "It was a tough decision to make, considering the competitive nature of T20 cricket and the impressive performances we have seen from our players. I would like to congratulate Ryan and Ottniel on their selection and I am confident that they will make valuable contributions to the team."
The pace attack will be led by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, with support from Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. The squad also includes three front-line spinners in Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi. Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named as the travelling reserves.
"Our preparations for the tournament will begin with a three-match T20I series against West Indies," said Walter. "Unfortunately, we will be without most of our players who are currently playing in the IPL. However, we have a strong squad and I am confident that we will put up a good fight against Sri Lanka in our opening match on June 3rd."
The provisional squad for the T20I series against West Indies includes some new names such as Matthew Breetzke, Patrick Kruger, and Nqaba Peter, along with familiar faces like Andile Phehlukwayo and Rassie van der Dussen. Cricket South Africa has stated that this squad is subject to change based on the availability of players who are participating in the IPL.
"It was a tough decision to select the final squad, but we believe that we have chosen the best players to represent our country in the T20 World Cup. We are excited to see what this team can do on the world stage and we urge all our supporters to rally behind them as they aim to bring home the gold. Get ready for some out of this world performances!" said Walter.
The South African team is set to face Sri Lanka in their opening match on June 3rd in New York. Fans can also look forward to an exciting T20I series against West Indies, which will serve as a warm-up for the World Cup. We wish the Proteas all the best for their upcoming matches and hope to see them bring home the trophy. Go Proteas!
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