Temba Bavuma to miss ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up matches

South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma is set to miss warm-up matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand at ICC World Cup 2023 because he is flying back home for family reasons.

Aiden Markram will fill in Bavuma’s shoes and will lead South Africa in the warm-up games with Afghanistan and New Zealand on September 29 and October 2, respectively. Both matches will be played at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Temba Bavuma is set to join the team before South Africa’s first match at the ICC World Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 7.

South Africa are also without experienced fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala, who were ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 after failing to clear a fitness test. They were replaced by all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and pace bowler Lizaad Williams.

Both pace bowlers were named in South Africa’s initial 15-member squad for World Cup 2023 and also featured in the home ODI series victory against Australia.

However, both players failed to play their part in the series victory as Anrich Nortje played only one match and was ruled out after bowling five overs due to a back injury, while, Sisanda Magala managed to pick one wicket in four overs in the third ODI before being ruled out due to discomfort in his previously injured knee.

South Africa’s updated World Cup squad

Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.

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