JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) recalled key players to their squad on Thursday for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan, scheduled to commence on December 17.
The opening ODI between Pakistan and South Africa will take place in Paarl, while the second and third ODIs will be played in Cape Town and Johannesburg on December 19 and 22 respectively.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, has made his return to the ODI team, accompanied by explosive batters David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen.
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Rabada last played an ODI during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, while Miller and Klaasen haven’t featured in the format since December 2023.
The 18-year-old pacer Kwena Maphaka has also received his maiden call-up to the ODI team following an outstanding performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
Maphaka is currently part of South Africa’s squad for the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan, where he took key wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the series opener.
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“We have named our strongest squad available, with each player capable of being a match-winner on their day, and we are extremely excited to see how this group performs together,” South Africa’s white-ball coach, Rob Walter said.
“We are very pleased with this squad. This series will be crucial in fine-tuning our combinations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy next year, and we are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.
Following the ODI series, Pakistan and South Africa will engage in a two-match Test series, which will kick off in Centurion on December 26, meanwhile, the second Test will start from January 3 in Cape Town.
South Africa ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
Pakistan ODI Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wk)
READ: Rizwan bags multiple unwanted records in first T20I against South Africa