South Africa has unveiled its 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with Aiden Markram taking charge as the captain for the first time in an ICC event. The Proteas have assembled a formidable lineup for the tournament set to take place in the USA and West Indies.
Notable inclusions in the squad are Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock, who return to the international stage after recent exclusions from Cricket South Africa’s central contract list. Nortje, recovering from a back injury since September 2023, joins forces with De Kock, who retired from ODIs after the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
The squad features two uncapped T20I players, Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman, both of whom showcased stellar performances in the recent SA20 tournament. Rickelton emerged as the leading run-scorer, while Baartman impressed with his bowling prowess.
Backing the youth, South Africa boasts a strong batting core including Markram, De Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and promising talent Tristan Stubbs.
The pace attack will be spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Nortje, supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee, while Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi will lead the spin department.
Here’s the complete South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (Captain), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs. Travelling reserves include Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi.
Coach Rob Walter expressed the difficulty in selecting the squad due to the exceptional performances witnessed in 2024. However, he is confident in the team’s strength and potential for success in the upcoming tournament.
South Africa commences its T20 World Cup journey on June 3 against Sri Lanka in New York.
Teams have until May 25 to make any changes to their squad, subject to approval from the ICC’s Event Technical Committee.
