SA announce 15-member squad for 2024 T20 WC, Nortje included
What's the story
South Africa have named their 15-member squad for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, starting on June 1. Aiden Markram is set to lead SA for the first time in an ICC event.
Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock, who were recently excluded from Cricket South Africa's central contract list, have made the cut.
Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman are the other notable inclusions.
Uncapped
Two uncapped players in the squad
In Rickelton and Baartman, SA have gone with two uncapped players.
The duo has been awarded for their dream run in the 2024 SA20.
While Rickelton was the leading run-getter with 530 runs at a strike rate of 173.77, pacer Baartman took 18 wickets in eight matches.
The duo, however, might not make it to the first-choice XI.
Analysis
A strong batting core
Besides Markram and De Kock, SA have the services of dashing batters Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs.
Kagiso Rabada and Nortje will be assisted by talented youngsters Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee in the pace-bowling department.
Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi are the frontline spinners. Pacers Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named in reserves.
Squad
A look at SA's T20 WC squad
Squad: Aiden Markram (c), 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 - Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi].
SA will kick-start their campaign on 3 June, against Sri Lanka in New York. West Indies and USA will co-host the tournament.