• Home
  • Cricket News
  • South Africa Announce Squads For Afghanistan And Ireland Series Temba Bavuma Returns As Captain

South Africa Announce Squads For Afghanistan And Ireland Series; Temba Bavuma Returns As Captain

South Africa to face Afghanistan, Ireland next in separate white ball series (X.com)South Africa to face Afghanistan, Ireland next in separate white ball series (X.com)

In an interesting development, Cricket South Africa (CSA) recently announced their decision to field 'B' teams for the upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan and Ireland. The squads for both the tours were released today with many missing regular faces.

South Africa is scheduled to play Afghanistan in a three-game ODI series followed by a two-game T20I and three-game ODI series series against Ireland in the month of September.

Both tours are scheduled for UAE, and CSA released separate squads for both series earlier today. 

CSA Unveils Squads For Upcoming White Ball Tours!

The ODI squad for the Afghanistan series will be led by Temba Bavuma. Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubb, Reeza Hendricks and Nandra Burger are the only regular faces on the 16-member squad.

Jason Smith, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Andile Simelane have been granted maiden ODI call-ups. Notably, Lungi Ngidi, who's recovering from a calf injury, has been omitted from the Afghanistan series.

It's important to note that barring Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, and Simelane, the rest of the squad will stay the same for the ODI series against Ireland. Only Rassie van der Dussen will be added in the Ireland series.

On the other hand, for the T20I series against Ireland, Aiden Markram will continue as captain. Lungi Ngidi will return only for the T20s, with Lizaad Willams, Ottneil Bartman, and Nandre Burger leading the bowling unit. Hendricks, Stubbs, and Rickleton will be charged to put runs on the board.

The Afghanistan ODI series will kick off from September 18, whereas the Ireland tour is scheduled from September 27.

Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, And Other Miss Out

Meanwhile, key player such as Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje were rested for both the white ball tours citing workload management. 

These regular faces are key pieces of South Africa's Test squad and hence to keep them fresh, CSA decided to rest all of them. 

Regardless, South Africa's squads for both the tours are well balanced the opportunities provided to promising talent will ensure that the future of South Africa cricket stays in safe hands.

South Africa ODI squad against Afghanistan

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams

South Africa T20I squad against Ireland 

Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams

South Africa ODI squad against Ireland

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, and Lizaad Williams