Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the Dean Elgar-led squad of 15 that will take on Bangladesh in the two-match, Betway Test series from 31 March to 12 April in Durban and Gqeberha, respectively.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins batsman, Khaya Zondo has been called up to the Test team for the first time, Lizaad Williams makes a welcome return, while Zubayr Hamza has been forced to withdraw from the Bangladesh tour as a whole (ODIs and Tests) due to personal reasons.
The team will be without its Indian Premier League (IPL) players, who will all report for duty at the conclusion of the Betway One-Day International (ODI) series. As the newly appointed CSA CEO, Mr Pholetsi Moseki stated in his press conference yesterday, CSA’s current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) states that CSA is not at liberty to refuse players the opportunity to take part in the tournament, as both organisations (CSA and SACA) look to balance the livelihoods and opportunities of players and their duties to the national team.
The gap created gives opportunities to youngsters who have been loudly knocking on the door of the national team for a chance at game time such as Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla and Wiaan Mulder. Other players to look out for include Sarel Erwee, who impressed in the recent Test tour to New Zealand, Duanne Olivier, Simon Harmer, Glenton Stuurman and Daryn Dupavillon.
CSA Convenor of Selectors, Victor Mpitsang said:
“The National Selection Panel and I are looking forward to watching what we believe will be a very highly contested Test series.
“The loss of the IPL players is not ideal, but we back the CSA system, its ever-growing pipeline and most of all, the players we have selected.
“Every member of the team is selected based on the excellence that they have shown over an extended period of time and there is no better opportunity for them than now, to show us what they have to offer the Proteas on this highly anticipated occasion.”
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain, Imperial Lions), Daryn Dupavillon (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Wiaan Mulder (Imperial Lions), Duanne Olivier (Imperial Lions), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ryan Rickelton (Imperial Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Imperial Lions), Glenton Stuurman (Gbets Warriors), Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
Betway Test Series
Thursday, 31 March to Monday 04 April
1st Test Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban
10:00
Friday, 08 April to Tuesday, 12 April
2nd Test George’s Park Cricket Ground, Gqeberha
10:00
