Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will captain South Africa in this month's T20I series against England. Regular T20I captain Faf du Plessis has been rested.
The squad also includes fast bowler Dale Steyn, who retired from Test cricket last year but is still available for ODI and T20I selection. The uncapped Pite van Biljon and Sisanda Magala have also been included.
South Africa and England are currently contesting a three-ODI series. South Africa and England are priced at 2.37 and 1.57, respectively, by bet365 to win the third ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday.
“We are pleased with the group that we have selected for this upcoming T20 series against England. We have once again taken the opportunity to reward some of the hard workers of our domestic franchise system while some of our key senior players continue with their much-needed rest period and we have again put our faith in Quinton to lead this group of exciting cricketers,” said Cricket South Africa acting director of cricket Graeme Smith.
“England have, of course, announced a competitive team and we are comfortable that we have the squad that can take them on and return positive results. With a T20 World Cup not too far away, we have started the process of identifying several players who we will be looking at over a period of time and hope that by the time September comes along, we will have the best possible squad of 15 representing South Africa.”
De Kock was appointed full-time ODI captain earlier this year, succeeding du Plessis. Magala and van Biljon, meanwhile, have been included on the back of solid stretches of form for the Warriors and Knights, respectively, in South African franchise cricket. Seamer Magala and batsman van Biljon represented the Cape Town Blitz and Tshwane Spartans in the 2019 Mzansi Super League.
“The squad we have selected is a good indicator of the talent that we boast in our country. CSA believes in rewarding hard work and consistently good performances that have been put in by players over a period of time. This is why we are thrilled to include Sisanda and Pite to the T20 squad as we go about our search for that T20 World Cup 15. Both have been outstanding for their respective franchise teams in the past and we are keen to see how they do against an imposing English side,” added independent selector Linda Zondi,
South Africa squad
Quinton de Kock (captain, wicketkeeper), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen.
