Aiden Markram was picked as the new T20 captain as South Africa’s new white-ball coach Rob Walter presented his first selections on Monday, although Faf du Plessis was left out.
Du Plessis and Walter did speak, but no agreement was reached over this month’s one-day and Twenty20 international series against the West Indies.
The 38-year-old Du Plessis, who hasn’t played for South Africa since February 2021, and other unaffiliated cricketers are not out of the running, according to Cricket South Africa director Enoch Nkwe.
We’ve always been willing to talk with our independent contractors; we’re excited to get involved and figure out the best course of action, added Nkwe.
Markram, who made his return to the Test team last week with a superb 115 in the win against West Indies, was selected captain of the T20 team, as was largely expected.
Temba Bavuma, the Test captain, was not included in the T20 squad, though he will still serve as the team’s ODI captain.
Nkwe claimed that Walter’s mandate was to make sure that South Africa built an ODI team that would be able to win the Cricket World Cup there in 2027.
The important one is in 2027, Nkwe stated. “But we must keep 2023 in mind (the World Cup in India). No expectation is placed on Walter to win this year, but we must work together to prepare for 2027.”
The ODI squad, according to Walter, was the first step towards this year’s World Cup. It gave opportunities to a number of young players, who would be joined by five more seasoned players for the third and final game against the West Indies.
The World Cup Super League does not include the West Indies ODIs.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, two fast bowlers, missed the one-day matches but will play in the T20s, which conclude three days before the two World Cup Super League ODIs against the Netherlands.
South Africa will automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup if they defeat the Dutch.
Nkwe claimed that in order to ensure that South Africa could field a full team for the matches against the Netherlands, discussions had been held with the Indian board and the Indian Premier League.
JP Duminy, a former South African batsman, has been appointed as the nation’s full-time white-ball batting instructor.
ODI squads
Temba Bavuma (capt), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams, Rassie van der Dussen.
During the third game, they will be joined by Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Wayne Parnell.
T20I squad
Markram (capt), De Kock (wkt), Fortuin, Hendricks, Jansen, Klaasen, Magala, Miller, Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Stubbs.
Fixtures v West Indies:
March 16, 1st ODI, East London
March 18, 2nd ODI, East London
March 21, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom
March 25, 1st T20, Centurion
March 26, 2nd T20, Centurion
March 28, 3rd T20, Johannesburg
