The Proteas will be without their IPL stars for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen will all report for IPL duty at the conclusion of the ODI series.
Cricket South Africa said its current memorandum of understanding with the South African Cricketers’ Association states that “CSA is not at liberty to refuse players the opportunity to take part in the tournament, as both organisations look to balance the livelihoods and opportunities of players and their duties to the national team”.
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“The loss of the IPL players is not ideal, but we back the CSA system, its ever-growing pipeline and most of all, the players we have selected,” said CSA convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang.
No 3 batsman Keegan Petersen is back in the squad having missed the tour of New Zealand due to Covid-19, while his replacement for that tour, Zubayr Hamza, has withdrawn for personal reasons.
Dolphins batsman Khaya Zondo has been called up to the Test squad for the first time and fast bowler Lizaad Williams makes a welcome return.
Proteas Test squad: Dean Elgar (c, Titans), Temba Bavuma (v-c, Lions), Daryn Dupavillon (Dolphins), Sarel Erwee (Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Duanne Olivier (Lions), Keegan Petersen (Dolphins), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Lions), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Kyle Verreynne (wk, Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Titans), Khaya Zondo (Dolphins).
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Bangladesh tour of South Africa:
1st ODI – Friday, 18 March: SuperSport Park, Centurion
2nd ODI – Sunday, 20 March: Wanderers, Johannesburg
3rd ODI – Wednesday, 23 March: SuperSport Park, Centurion
1st Test – Thursday, 31 March to Monday, 4 April: Kingsmead, Durban
2nd Test – Friday, 8 April to Tuesday, 12 April: St George’s Park, Gqeberha
