Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander have been rested for the ODI leg of the Zimbabwe series, while four members of the SA A squad have been called up to the senior side.

Convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson said that the trio of Steyn, Morkel and Philander would be given the three-game series off, but will return for the triangular series against Zimbabwe and Australia later in August.

They will be replaced by two members of the SA A squad who recently did duty in Australia – Marchant de Lange and Mthokozisi Shezi. The third bowler called up as a replacement is Kyle Abbott, who has been part of the Test squad for the Proteas’ two most recent Test series.

Another two members of the SA A squad have been elevated to the Proteas ODI team. Kagiso Rabada, who impressed for the SA U19s during the U19 World Cup earlier this year, will tour in order to gain some insight into what it’s like being part of the senior South African squad. ‘We want him to experience and learn from the environment around the Proteas,’ said Hudson.

Rilee Rossouw has also been rewarded for his good form with the SA A side, and fills the hole in the squad left by Jacques Kallis’ retirement. ‘Rilee is coming off a very impressive South Africa A series in Australia in which he scored 337 runs at an average of 48 with a strike rate of 96,’ said Hudson.

‘He has also been a consistent performer in franchise cricket for some time and his selection is well deserved. The message is clear to all our players: if you perform at domestic level and then take it through to SA A level, you will be rewarded.’

The squad for the traingular series against Zimbabwe and Australia will only be announced after the three-ODI series has been concluded.

The squad for Zimbabwe is as follows:
AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw, Mthokozisi Shezi.

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