Van der Dussen to Skipper South Africa in T20I Tri-Series; Young Guns Get Their Chance

Van der Dussen to Captain South Africa in T20I Tri-Series

Rassie van der Dussen has been named captain of the South African squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Harare, featuring New Zealand and Zimbabwe. With regular captain Aiden Markram and other key players rested, this series presents an opportunity for new faces to shine.

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 in the SA20 league, earning his first international call-up. Corbin Bosch, already experienced in ODIs and Tests, will be looking to make his mark in T20Is. Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy, both of whom have represented South Africa in other formats, complete the list of uncapped players.

The return of fast bowlers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee further strengthens the South African side. Both players have recovered from injuries and are currently participating in the MLC. Dewald Brevis is also set to make his comeback after a two-year absence from the national team.

This tri-series marks Shukri Conrad's inaugural T20I assignment as the all-format coach. The series is scheduled to begin on July 14, with South Africa facing Zimbabwe. The final will be held on July 26.

"This T20I tri-series marks the start of our preparation for next year's T20 World Cup," said Conrad. "With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates space for these players to step in and show what they can offer, and bring them into contention for World Cup selection."

Conrad added, "Lhuan-dre and Rubin have been rewarded for their outstanding domestic form in the SA20 and we're excited to see how they adapt to the demands of international cricket. We know what Corbin has to offer at this level and we are keen to see how his Test and ODI skills will translate to the T20I arena."

South Africa Squad:

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