African Games matches involving a South African team comprised of university players have been stripped of T20I status.

The men’s and women’s T20 cricket tournaments at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, were both given T20I status.

As a result, all 11 players who took to the field for South Africa’s opening men’s match against Ghana last Sunday officially made their T20I debuts and effectively got T20I Proteas caps.

This included George van Heerden, who scored 107 off 57 balls – regarded as an official T20I century at the time – in the 134-run win.

Another three players made their T20I debut for SA in the 70-run defeat to Kenya on Monday.

However, SACricketmag.com understands that these matches involving South Africa were not only stripped of T20I status on Tuesday, but downgraded to “Other T20s”, meaning the records won’t count for “List A T20” either.

Matches between other nations at the African Games will still have T20I status.

Team SA will take on Uganda in their final Group A match on Wednesday.

Team SA squad – George van Heerden (c, SU), Dylan Bester (UFS), Lehan Botha (SU), Ethan Frosler (NMU), Kyle Glennistor (NWU), Maahir Joseph (SU), Keagan Lion-Cachet (UP), Raps Motlhoaring (CUT), Lifa Ntanzi (UJ), Mini Ntobela (NWU), Heinrigh Pieterse (NWU), Jesse Prodehl (UWC), Jason Raubenheimer (CUT), Lwando Tywaku (UWC), Aphiwe Yako (UP).

By Simon Borchardt

Photos: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images