Baartman, Rickelton included in World Cup squad

Proteas white-ball head coach, Rob Walter, has announced the South African 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the USA and West Indies from 01 – 29 June.

Aiden Markram will lead the side in what will be his first World Cup assignment since being named T20 International captain.

The squad includes two uncapped T20I players – Lions batter Ryan Rickelton and Dolphins fast bowler Ottniel Baartman.

Rickelton finished as the leading run-scorer of the second edition of the SA20 with 530 runs for MI Cape Town, while Baartman took 18 wickets in eight matches for defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and is currently with Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals.

The team will rely on the expertise of batters Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and the promising Tristan Stubbs.

Leading the pace attack will be Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje supported by Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.

Other notable selections include three front-line spinners in CSA T20 Challenge winning captain Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named as the travelling reserves.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate all the players that have made the cut,” Walter said.

“Selecting this group was extremely tough considering the amount of T20 cricket that has been played recently and the form that has been on show. I want to congratulate the two uncapped players, Ryan and Ottniel, on their selection.
“We have seen some incredible performances from our players in 2024 and that made my job very tough indeed. I am nonetheless proud and confident that we have named the strongest possible squad that no doubt has every chance of success in the West Indies and USA.”

Walter has also named a provisional squad for the preceding three-match T20I series against West Indies. This group will change and have players added to it when management is aware of IPL player availability.

The provisional squad will assemble for a week-long camp from 13 – 17 May at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria, with the final squad set to be announced prior to their departure on 18 May.

“Our preparations for the tournament will start with a three-match T20I series against West Indies. For this tour we will unfortunately be without most of the players who are currently involved in the IPL,” added Walter.

“But it does provide an opportunity for others, especially those who excelled in the CSA T20 Challenge. A captain for the group will be finalised closer to the time.”

Management

Rob Walter (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Jean-Paul Duminy (Batting Coach), Eric Simons (Bowling Coach), Wandile Gwavu (Fielding Coach), Thomas Dawson-Squibb (Performance Coach), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur) and Lucy Davey (Media Manager). Written by Ntsako Mkhari