South Africa have selected wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, fast bowler Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Jason Smith in their squad for the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka starting next month, but there is no place for Tristan Stubbs.
Aiden Markram will captain the team, which contains just two front-row players, George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, and will rely heavily on pace.
Kagiso Rabada was included despite missing the last few months due to injury, and only returned to action last week.
Along with Nortje, he is part of a pace team that also includes Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi.
De Kock will likely open the batting after coming out of retirement late last year, including power hitters David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira.
But Stubbs has been left out after a run of indifferent form, while Ryan Rickelton is also ruled out.
“We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently played hosts India,” said coach Shukri Conrad. “The experience we gained from playing in these conditions will undoubtedly benefit us going into this tournament.
“Many players selected for the World Cup squad have been on this trip and have experienced first-hand the pitches we are likely to encounter and which will stand them in good stead once they arrive in India.”
South Africa are drawn in Group ‘D’ alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, and will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada in Ahmedabad.
South Africa team: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Smith.
