THE international cricket season is in full flight and scheduled for after this and next weekend’s five day internationals against Sri Lanka, a largely different-looking Protea squad is waiting in anticipation to show their class in the T20 series.
Farhaan Behardien has been appointed as stand-in captain of the Standard Bank Proteas, for the first two matches in the KFC T20 International Series against Sri Lanka.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) named a 13-man squad that includes six new caps in this format: Jon-Jon Smuts, Theunis de Bruyn, Mangaliso Mosehle, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson and Lungi Ngidi.
“We’ve decided to rest some of our key senior players for this series,” said CSA selection convener, Linda Zondi. “This is the last chance we have to do this, as the Momentum ODI series that follows is an important part of our build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy Tournament, in England in mid-year.”
“Those senior players who are involved in the Indian Premier League, will be playing non-stop from now until the end of August; with the tours to New Zealand and England coming up, in addition to the ICC event.”
“Farhaan was one of the standout players in our franchise T20 Challenge, being the second leading runs scorer behind Jon-Jon Smuts – and having the best batting strike rate.”
“David Wiese was one of our original selections, but he’s informed us that he intends to take up a Kolpak contract – and has therefore been withdrawn from the squad.”
“Both AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel are due to resume playing at domestic level later this month; and could come into contention for the third T20,” said Zondi.
Standard Bank Proteas squad: Farhaan Behardien (Multiply Titans, capt), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), Reeza Hendricks (bizhub Highveld Lions), Imran Tahir (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Heino Kuhn (Multiply Titans), David Miller (VKB Knights), Mangaliso Mosehle (bizhub Highveld Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Multiply Titans), Wayne Parnell and Dane Paterson (both BuildNat Cape Cobras), Aaron Phangiso (bizhub Highveld Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Jon-Jon Smuts (Warriors).
KFC T20 International schedule:
Friday January 20: KFC International, SuperSport Park, 18:00
Sunday January 22: KFC International, Bidvest Wanderers, 14:30
Wednesday January 25: KFC International, PPC Newlands, 18:00
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