Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says the players leaving for the IPL after the second ODI against Pakistan won’t cause much disruption to the squad.
All Proteas players with IPL contracts will depart for India this coming Sunday after the Pink ODI in Johannesburg, meaning they will miss next week’s third encounter and the subsequent T2oI series against Pakistan.
With the IPL starting at the end of next week, an arrangement was made by Cricket South Africa and the BCCI that all players involved with the Indian franchises will be available from the beginning of the competition.
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It ultimately meant a few new faces were included for the T20I squad that gets under way at the Wanderers on Saturday, 10 April.
‘It’s probably not as disturbing now,’ said Bavuma at a media conference on Monday.
‘We are aware of the arrangement that is in place. For the first two games we’ve got the liberty of all our best players and it is important that we get the positive results from those two games. That is not saying that we are conceding the result in the third game.
‘We believe that we got worthy enough replacements coming in to fill those boots. We respect the relationship between Cricket South Africa and the BCCI.’
Players set to leave the Proteas camp to travel to India for the IPL include Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, and Anrich Nortje.
Bavuma, though, will take charge of his first assignment as skipper of the two limited-overs teams and believes it will be a good test of the squad’s character and depth.
Wiaan Lubbe and Lizaad Williams are the two players called up to the national fold for the first time, with Lubbe only selected in the T20I squad, while Williams was added to both lists.
‘The mood in the camp has been rather optimistic. It is always nice to get new faces in, guys being rewarded for their performances and talent that has been shown domestically. From the older guys as well, it’s always nice to have new faces in the team,’ Bavuma added.
The first ODI gets under way at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.
Proteas ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad Williams.
Proteas T20I squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Pite van Biljon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe.
