Heinrich Klaasen is set to captain South Africa for the first time in the T20I three-match series against Pakistan, starting in Lahore on 11 February.
Klaasen has been named captain of a T20I squad with a number of new names, as South Africa Cricket has named a squad commemorating the three-match series against Australia – and the quarantine requirements that come with it – later in February. With the 2021 T20 World Cup coming up later in the year, it gives some of the players on the fringes of the national squad a chance.
“The circumstances we find ourselves allow the National Selection Panel to cast a wide web and give some of the young and exciting talent who have been in their sights the opportunity, for a lifetime in a World Cup year. T20, ”said CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith.
Okuhle Cele, Ryan Rickleton, Nandre Burger and Jacques Snyman were the players receiving the mermaid national team calls, while Glenton Stuurman, whose left quadriceps muscle weight resulted in a half-release way through the Trials against Sri Lanka, also returned to the side.
The T20I three-match series will be played in Lahore from 11 to 14 February, following the end of the two-match Test series, starting in Karachi on 26 January.
Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickleton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman, Jacques Snyman