South Africa announce T20 World Cup squad

|| CF DESK ||

Aiden Markram will lead South Africa's T20I squad for the first time at an ICC event as the Proteas announce their team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in the USA and West Indies.

Among the notable selections are fast bowler Anrich Nortje and wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, both of whom were recently omitted from Cricket South Africa's central contract list.

Nortje has been sidelined from international cricket since September 2023 due to a back injury, while De Kock announced his retirement from ODIs after the 2023 Cricket World Cup, having already retired from Test cricket in 2022.

The squad also features two uncapped players who shone in the recent SA20 tournament. Ryan Rickelton, who led the tournament in runs with 530 at an average of 58.88 and a strike rate of 173.77 for MI Cape Town, and Ottniel Baartman, who claimed 18 wickets in just eight matches for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, are the fresh faces in the squad.

South Africa's batting line-up is robust, with established players like Markram, De Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and young talent Tristan Stubbs. This blend of experience and youth gives the team a dynamic edge.

On the bowling front, the pace attack is led by Kagiso Rabada and Nortje, supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. The spin department features a strong trio in Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi, providing the team with diverse options to tackle different conditions.

Overall, this squad represents a mix of proven talent and emerging stars, setting the stage for a competitive showing in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.

Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.