Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday (January 10) announce a 14-man squad for the first two One-Day Internationals of the five-match series against Pakistan, starting from January 19 in Port Elizabeth.
While Highveld Lions batsman Rassie van der Dussen has earned a maiden call-up to the Proteas ODI squad on the back of his series of brilliant performances in the limited overs cricket, fast bowler Dane Paterson and stalwart batsman Hashim Amla also returned to the national colors for Pakistan series.
Van der Dussen, who is a top-order batsman for the Lions and averages more than 40 in First-class and List A cricket, finished as the highest scorer in the recent Mzansi Super League with 469 runs for Jozi Stars at a strike-rate of close to 140, as well as, highest scorer for the Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 league in Canada 255 runs.
He was also recently named as Vernon Philander's replacement for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan having made Test debut against Bangladesh in 2017. He also scored a half-century on his T20 International debut for Proteas against Zimbabwe last year.
CSA National Selection Panel (NSP) convener Linda Zondi said, “We need to look at all the options available to us as we get closer to selecting our final squad for this year's World Cup. Rassie and Dane are two players who have been knocking strongly on the door in all formats.”
Meanwhile, CSA official is pleased the way national side is shaping up for the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, as well as, insisted that the doors are still open for the players whose names are missing for the first two ODIs, as they will get their chances in the second half of the series.
Zondi continued, “We are very happy with the way in which our Vision 2019 is taking shape. The series against Pakistan could not have come at a better time as they will provide a very stern test for the Proteas under conditions very similar to what we will experience at the World Cup.”
He signed off by saying, “Those players who went to Australia and have not been selected for the first two matches - Farhaan Behardien, Aiden Markram and Chris Morris - are by no means out of the picture and they may well get further opportunities in the second half of the series.”
South Africa ODI squad v Pakistan:
Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen
(With Reuters Inputs)
