No Markram and other South African Superstars For IPL Opening Games; Squad For NED Series Announced
Aiden Markram during practice session for South Africa (Twitter)
Cricket South Africa announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming ODI series against Netherlands, which would decide the fate for the Proteas direct qualification to the ODI World Cup 2023.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have been recalled into the camp after they were rested for the three-match ODI series against West Indies, which finished at 1-1. Currently the duo are featuring in the shortest format of the game against the Windies and the series has gone down to the decider that will take place on Tuesday at Johannesburg.
The squad have similar faces with Temba Bavuma leading the pack. Knowing the importance of the series, management has summoned all of their mainstays to be involved in it. A 2-0 victory in the series would put South Africa in a good position for the direct qualification to the marquee event held in India later this year.
This would mean that Aiden Markram (SRH), Heinrich Klaasen (SRH), Marco Jansen (SRH), Quinton de Kock (LSG), David Miller (GT), Kagiso Rabada (PBKS), Anrich Nortje (DC), Lungi Ngidi (DC) and Sisanda Magala (CSK) will be absent when their respective franchises take field for their opening games in the upcoming IPL season. Moreover, Markram is the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad and it would be a massive dent for the franchise to fill in.
Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
To be on point, the series was originally scheduled for November 2021 and was of three-matches. After the first match being washed out due to rain and with increasing COVID-19 cases, the remaining matches of the series were postponed. The rescheduled matches are set to be played at Willowmoore Park, Benoni and the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on March 31st and April 2nd respectively.