It really is the best of times and the worst of times for South Africa. In Tests, they are at the top of the WTC table and just need a single win to finalize a place in their first-ever WTC final. While this surely is nerve-wracking for them, what’s more, is that an ODI tournament is lingering close, and the team has only two build-up series for it. The first will be a home series versus Pakistan, while the other will be a tri-series in Pakistan.
But their worries don’t end here. Out of these two series, the Proteas will only get to check all the boxes they need for the 50-over tournament, in the first series. Since the tri-series will begin just two days after the final of the SAT20, South Africa’s domestic T20 league, many regulars might be sat out to manage the workload. This means most of the players will not be available for the final rehearsal. As a result, the Proteas would want to get as many of their first-choice players in this three-match series as they can.
Many of their senior players will mark their returns to the side after a year. This includes players like Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi. However, the team will rue the fact that several of their better pacers including Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, and Nandre Burger will not be available for selection since all of them are out with their respective injuries. While the others were a part of the ODI series against Ireland or Afghanistan this year, Nortje and Coetzee last played the format almost a year ago. The management would want them to be available for the tri-series in February, given the recover from their injuries in time.
The absence of these handful of pacers has allowed the team to add youngsters like the 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka. The team will be again led by Temba Bavuma, who missed the last ODI game against Ireland after picking up an elbow injury in the previous game.
“The bowling line-up features one of the fastest in the game in KG (Kagiso Rabada), and this series offers another great opportunity for a young talent like Kwena to come in and learn first-hand from the best. In the batting department, we are thrilled to welcome back David and Heinrich, two of the most destructive players in the game. Overall, we are very pleased with this squad.” South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter said while announcing the squad for the three-match ODI series.
Interestingly, many of the players in the squad also have to play the red-ball series, just four days after the conclusion of the 50-over series. This presents another challenge for Bavuma’s men. The first Test match versus Pakistan, which is scheduled to be played on the Boxing Day, is a crucial game for the Proteas to get through to the WTC final on their own. This could see the hosts sidelining their key players including Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton for the last ODI game.
South Africa squad for ODI series against Pakistan
Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
