Bavuma and Rabada were due to turn out for the Lions against the Dolphins in Durban starting on Thursday, but the Lions confirmed that neither were available. “Bavuma has a personal matter to attend to and Rabada has a heel niggle,” the statement read, while adding that Lions coach Russell Domingo was “disappointed” not to have them in the XI.
Two other quicks – Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen – have been released from South Africa’s T20I squad and will not play the ODIs against India as they take part in the first-class competition in preparation for the Tests. South Africa’s other bowling option, Nandre Burger, is part of the white-ball set-up and could debut in the third T20I at the Wanderers on Thursday. Wiaan Mulder, who is in the Test squad, is part of the ODI squad and also won’t play this round of first-class matches.
Bavuma has not played any cricket since South Africa’s ODI World Cup campaign ended in the semi-final against Australia on November 16, where he was carrying a hamstring injury. He last played a Test match in March, when South Africa played West Indies, and scored a series-winning 172 at the Wanderers. He is expected to be available for the Test series against India, which starts on December 26.