Van der Dussen to Skipper Proteas in T20I Tri-Series Featuring New Zealand and Zimbabwe

Rassie van der Dussen is set to lead a relatively inexperienced South African squad in the upcoming T20I tri-series held in Harare, featuring New Zealand and Zimbabwe. He steps into the captain's role in the absence of regular skipper Aiden Markram, who is among several senior players rested as part of workload management strategies.

Rassie van der Dussen will lead SA in the absence of regular skipper Aiden Markram © Getty

The squad includes exciting young opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who impressed as the top run-scorer in the SA20 league this year, earning his first national call-up. Corbin Bosch, already experienced in ODIs and Tests, will have the chance to debut in the T20I format. Rubin Hermann, another SA20 standout, and Senuran Muthusamy, who has represented South Africa in other formats, are also among the uncapped players selected for this series.

Adding depth to the team are the returning pacers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee. Both have been sidelined due to injuries but are now actively participating in the MLC. Dewald Brevis is also set to make his comeback after an absence of nearly two years from the South African side.

This tri-series marks Shukri Conrad's inaugural T20I assignment since his appointment as the all-format coach. The series is scheduled to commence on July 14, with South Africa facing the host nation, Zimbabwe. The final match is slated for July 26.

According to Conrad, "This T20I tri-series signifies the beginning of our preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup next year. Resting several senior players offers an opportunity for new talent to emerge and stake their claim for World Cup selection."

He further added, "Lhuan-dre and Rubin are rewarded for their exceptional domestic performances in the SA20 and we are excited to assess their adaptability to international cricket's demands. Corbin's capabilities are well-known at this level, and we anticipate seeing how his Test and ODI skills translate into the T20I arena."

South Africa Squad for T20I Tri-Series:

Rassie van der Dussen (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane