Temba Bavuma is expected to recover in time to lead the team at the marquee tournament
“Faf has got a wonderful record,” the selection convener Victor Mptisang said, “But at the moment, we want to be consistent in selection and this is the group of players we have gone with.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that communication with players who have not been awarded national contracts has been scant. This effectively means South Africa have decided against using free agents in the national side.
Bavuma had surgery on Sunday and is expected to be fit by mid to late October. He will lead a 15-player squad with three frontline spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin. Spin-bowling allrounder George Linde travels as a reserve player. “It’s the subcontinent and with the IPL being played before the tournament so we know the wickets will take a lot of spin. We have to look at the balance of the squad,” Mpitsang said in a television broadcast.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Radaba, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
Reserves: George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lizaad Williams
More to follow
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent