South Africa Announces Strong Squad for Pakistan ODI Series

Ahead of the 2024 Champions Trophy, Cricket South Africa has announced a powerful squad for their three-match ODI series against Pakistan. Key players Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi have all returned to the ODI team. The series will begin with the first ODI on December 17 in Paarl.

The squad features nine changes from the one that played against Ireland in the UAE. Among these, the returning players include Rabada, Klaasen, Miller, Maharaj, and Shamsi, who hasn't played an ODI in almost a year.

Eighteen-year-old pacer, Quena Mafaka, is the only uncapped player in the squad. Mafaka was the top wicket-taker in this year's Under-19 World Cup and recently impressed with his pace, clocking speeds of 152 km/h in the T20 series against Pakistan. Now, he has earned a call-up for the 50-over format.

However, South Africa has been forced to make changes due to injuries to key pacers such as Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, and Nandre Burger.

The team will be led by regular captain Temba Bavuma, who had been recovering from an injury sustained during the October ODI series against Ireland but has since made a comeback in Test cricket.

The ODI series will start on December 17 in Paarl, followed by the second match in Cape Town on December 19. The final match will take place in Johannesburg on December 22.

South Africa squad for ODI series against Pakistan

Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen