Temba Bavuma, the South African limited-overs captain, has been ruled out of the four-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting today in Johannesburg.
Bavuma picked up a grade one hamstring strain while batting during the third ODI at Centurion versus the visitors. In his absence, Heinrich Klaasen will be captaining the Proteas for the whole T20I leg of Pakistan’s visit.
Not just Bavuma, in-form batsman Rassie van der Dussen is also an injury concern for the home team, as he struggles with grade one left quadriceps muscle strain. However, the selectors have kept Dussen in the squad.
“I’d be stupid to push him (Dussen) to try and play in these T20s. He is still staying in the squad and hope he can have a quick turnaround but it doesn’t look likely that he is going to get on the park,”
Cricbuzz had quoted Proteas head coach Mark Boucher about Dussen’s injury post the completion of the ODI series.
Among other South African cricketers, Dwaine Pretorius hasn’t been cleared fit to play the T20I series versus Pakistan as he continues to recover from his rib fracture.
Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Daryn Dupavillon and Wiaan Mulder have been retained in the team for the shortest version after taking part in the ODIs.
Reeza Hendricks has opted out of the series following the birth of his first child.
South Africa’s 18-man squad includes three uncapped fast-bowlers Sisanda Magala, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, off-spinner Wihan Lubbe and Kyle Verreynne, who has taken part in four ODIs.
The squad is weakened significantly by the absence of South Africa’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 bound cricketers such as wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, pacers Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, explosive batter David Miller and all-rounder Chris Morris.
These cricketers will be playing for the likes of Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
While Morris wasn’t involved in the Pakistan ODIs anyway, Cricket South Africa (CSA) allowed De Kock, Nortje, Rabada, Miller and Ngidi to leave the series early post the second ODI in Jo’burg on April 4. Reaching India will help them go through the mandatory seven-day quarantine and take part in the IPL 2021.
Proteas’ first-choice skipper Bavuma, who recently replaced De Kock on the leadership front, has recently played 8 T20Is for his country, with 249 runs at a strike rate of 133.15, averaging 35.57.
The 30-year-old right-hand batsman batted reasonably well through the ODI series, which South Africa lost 2-1. He made 113 runs at an average of 37.67 while carrying a strike rate of 87.60 from his three innings against the Pakistani attack.
The ODI leg saw visitors pull off the first punch, winning a close-fought opening encounter in Centurion by three wickets. The hosts, however, bounced back strongly in the following match in Johannesburg and levelled the series 1-1.
In the high-scoring decider in Centurion on Wednesday (April 7), Pakistan came out triumphant by 28 runs and clinched the series.
The teams will remain in Jo’burg for the first T20I and the second scheduled for Monday (April 12). The caravan will then move back to the SuperSport Park in Centurion for the third and fourth T20I of a rare four-match series in the shortest version on April 14 and 16, respectively.
Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Bjorn Fortuin, Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne, Pite van Biljon, Daryn Dupavillon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe.
