South Africa Will Be Without 3 Key Players In ODIs In Sri Lanka, But The Trio May Return In T20Is 1

South Africa will be without a number of key players for their three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka next month but expect their big guns to return for the Twenty20 series that follows as they build towards the upcoming T20I World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

South Africa plays three ODIs in Colombo from Sept. 2-7 but will be without leading batsman Quinton de Kock (rested), powerful middle-order hitter David Miller (hamstring injury), and seamer Lungi Ngidi (personal reasons).

South Africa Cricket Team
South Africa Cricket Team (Photo by Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA Images via Getty Images)

South Africa Plays 3 ODIs And As Many T20Is Against Sri Lanka

All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius will return to the squads for both series after an injury lay-off that saw him miss successful tours to West Indies and Ireland in recent months. The missing trio has been included in the expanded 19-man squad for the T20 matches, which will also be staged in Colombo from Sept. 10-14, a month before the World Cup starts.

David Miller (L), Quinton de Kock (C), and Lungi Ngidi. Credit: DH, AFP, Reuters File Photo.
The takeaways from the squad announcement of Proteas are, Dwaine Pretorius has returned to both the squads. Junior Dala has been included in the ODI squad and ace batter and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has been rested from the ODIs. Pacer Lungi Ngidi will miss out on the ODIs due to personal reasons while David Miller’s injury is being monitored regularly.

South Africa won their T20 series against world champions West Indies and Ireland, and will once again be captained by Temba Bavuma in both formats.

Sri Lanka Will Be Confident After Their Show Against India In The T20Is

South Africa will fight against Sri Lanka who will be instilled with great confidence after recently defeating India in the T20Is. Sri Lanka recently played three ODIs and as many T20Is against India wherein the ODI series was won by India but hosts took away the T20Is.

Wanindu Hasaranga Celebrates A Wicket in 1st T20I @SLC

After COVID-19 havoc broke in India’s camp, India played with their depleted side and completed the series. Under the guidance of Rahul Dravid, many youngsters got the chance to showcase their skills. Talking about South Africa, they played last against West Indies and won the two-match Test series as 2-0 and the five-match T20I series as 3-2.

Wanindu Hasaranga, the No.2 ranked T20I bowler in the world, bamboozled the Indian batsmen in the recently-concluded limited-overs series, picking up 10 wickets from five matches, including a match-winning 4/9 in the deciding T20I, which Sri Lanka won to clinch the series.

ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Junior Dala, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.

T20 squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lzaad Williams.