Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced the national squad that will play in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 to be played in the UAE and Oman starting from October 17.
There were notable exclusions from the team including experienced campaigners Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, and Imran Tahir which left the fans and cricket experts around the globe upset.
CSA’s Director of Cricket Graeme Smith the Temba Bavuma-led side was a “new group of players, with new heroes to be made.”
The former South African captain said that the board had talks with Du Plessis but they could not come to an agreement as the experienced batsman is now regarded as a ‘free-agent who plays various T20 leagues across the globe and is not contracted with CSA.
“When you are working with free agents you have to come together. You have to find that balance that works for both the team and the free agents. With Faf in particular we struggled to find that balance,” Smith said as quoted by AFP.
Faf du Plessis retired from Test cricket last year but said that he wants to continue playing white-ball cricket and wanted to participate in the next two T20 World Cups. Du Plessis made a point for selection with a 60-ball 120* for St Lucia against St Kitts and Nevis in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL 2021) last Saturday.
All-rounder Chris Morris signed a Rs 16.25 crore deal with Rajasthan Royal (RR) last year and is considered to be one of the best T20 players. Smith said that the all-rounder made himself unavailable to play for South Africa and added that he last played an international match in March 2019.
Veteran spinner Imran Tahir is another free agent whose name was discussed but the 42-year old missed out too.
“He’s (Imran Tahir) had a great run and he’s still being successful but we’re very confident in the spin bowlers we have available,” Smith said
David Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Kagiso Rabada are the only players who played in T20 World Cup 2016.
South Africa T20 World Cup 2021 squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.
(With AFP inputs)
