The omission of Ottneil Baartman from the Proteas T20 World Cup squad for the tournament being played in India and Sri Lanka from next month has surprised many cricket followers.
At the same time, the inclusion of young Kwena Maphaka has also raised eyebrows in a few quarters.
Over the last few weeks, Baartman, playing for the Paarl Royals in the SA20, has become the leading all-time wicket-taker in the competition and this season, too, he is top of the list for wickets taken.
In eight matches (before Friday’s qualifier between the Paarl Royals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape) he has 19 wickets, including a hat trick. Next on the list is Anrich Nortje (10 games) and Sikandar Raza (nine games), with 15 wickets each.
Maphaka, who was such a star at U19 level, struggled in the SA20 for Durban’s Super Giants, taking four wickets in eight matches.
‘Match-winning performances’
The left-arm quick bowler has played 13 international T20s and taken 15 wickets, with Proteas coach Shukri Conrad this week saying he was completely at ease about the 19-year-old’s selection. He also spoke about the omission of Baartman.
“The selection was done before the SA20 got into its stride. If we selected the World Cup squad only after the SA20 then maybe we would have had longer conversations about Ottneil,” said Conrad this week.
“It’s tough on Ottneil. He has done wonderfully well and I’m thrilled for him, but we mustn’t forget Kwena was part of our national side not so long ago.
“In Australia and England, he turned in match-winning performances for us. He got a four-for [4/40 in the first T20 in Darwin last August], he bowled quickly, he’s got pace, and he’s got a great attitude.
“In England, the night we got savaged at Old Trafford [when England scored 304/2 and beat the Proteas by 146 runs] when everyone went for 16s and 17s, Kwena went at 10 [0/41 in four].
“We also need to be consistent. We need to look after the players we believe have a bright future for us. We’ve also looked at what will be required in India.
“It’s the same with the selection on Anrich; we’re going to need pace at certain venues, and Kwena brings that.
“I’m very comfortable with the selection of Kwena, very. We just like what he brings to the party, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like what Ottneil brings …”
Series against West Indies
The Proteas 15-man squad for the World Cup, minus David Miller who is nursing a groin injury, will take on the West Indies in a three-match T20 series next week, with matches in Paarl, Centurion and Joburg.
Rubin Hermann has been added to the Proteas squad for the West Indies series, with Miller having to pass a fitness test next week to go to the World Cup.
The squad leave South Africa next Sunday for India, with the team’s first World Cup match, against Canada, on February 9. They also face Afghanistan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates in their group at the tournament.
South Africa squad for series against West Indies
Aiden Markram (capt) Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs
South Africa squad for T20 World Cup
Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs
West Indies fixtures
1st T20I – Tuesday, 27 January at 6pm
South Africa vs West Indies – Boland Park, Paarl
2nd T20I – Thursday, 29 January at 6pm
South Africa vs West Indies – SuperSport Park, Centurion
3rd T20I – Saturday, 31 January at 6pm
South Africa vs West Indies – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
T20 World Cup fixtures
Monday, 9 February at 3.30pm
South Africa v Canada – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Wednesday, 11 February 7.30am
South Africa v Afghanistan – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Friday, 14 February at 3.30pm
New Zealand v South Africa – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Tuesday, 18 February at 7.30am
South Africa v United Arab Emirates – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
