Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs have been called up to the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad.
They replace the injured Tony de Zorzi and Donovan Ferreira, and have also been included in the squad for the three-match home T20I series against the West Indies.
Reeza Hendricks was tipped to replace De Zorzi, but Rickelton’s weight of runs in the SA20 made him impossible to ignore. The left-hander finished the tournament with 337 runs at an average of 42.12 and a strike rate of 156.01.
According to ESPNcricinfo, CSA’s board backed the decision to select Rickelton ahead of Hendricks on performance grounds, despite transformation targets for 2025 having not been met.
De Zorzi has been ruled out with a right hamstring muscle tear sustained during the ODI series against India last month, while Ferreira fractured his left collarbone during the SA20 clash between the Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals at the Wanderers.
David Miller suffered a groin injury on Monday while playing for the Paarl Royals and will take no part in the T20I series against the West Indies. His availability for the T20 World Cup will be determined following a fitness test.
Royals batsman Rubin Hermann has been added to the squad for the T20I series against the West Indies.
There is still no room for pace bowler Ottneil Baartman, with Lungi Ngidi expected to recover from a leg injury in time for the T20 World Cup.
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The squad will assemble from Friday ahead of the opening West Indies T20I next Tuesday at Boland Park in Paarl, before travelling to the Highveld for the second and third matches at Centurion on 29 January and the Wanderers on 31 January.
Players currently involved in the SA20 knockout phase will link up with the squad on Monday.
The Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad will depart for India on 1 February from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Proteas squad (T20I series against West Indies): Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.
Proteas squad (T20 World Cup): Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.
Photo: @ProteasMenCSA
