Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. The team will be led by the regular ODI skipper, Temba Bavuma, who will be making his maiden World Cup appearance along with eight other players.
In a statement released by CSA, it was highlighted that “eight out of the 15 players have earned their maiden World Cup call-ups, including captain Bavuma.” This injection of fresh talent reflects CSA’s commitment to building a competitive and balanced squad for the prestigious tournament.
One of the notable inclusions in the squad is right-arm pacer Gerald Coetzee, who made his international debut earlier this year. Coetzee has already made an impact in his short international career, with a noteworthy performance in his two one-day international appearances, where he claimed five wickets, including a three-wicket haul on his ODI debut.
The South African World Cup squad boasts a mix of experienced batters, including Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Rassie van der Dussen. Their collective experience is expected to provide stability and firepower to the batting lineup.
On the bowling front, the pace attack will be spearheaded by the formidable Kagiso Rabada, supported by fast bowlers like Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. Given that the tournament is scheduled in India, the squad also includes spinners, with Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi adding depth to the spin-bowling department.
Rob Walter, the Protea Men’s white-ball head coach, commented on the squad selection, emphasizing the importance of having a balanced mix of experienced players and newcomers. He stated, “It’s great having a mix of experienced players and players who will be competing in their first 50-over World Cup – you get that sort of exuberance of excitement to be doing something for the first time.”
Walter also expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to adapt to the conditions in India under the leadership of Temba Bavuma and the senior players. South Africa aims to make a strong showing in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, and their squad composition reflects their determination to compete at the highest level.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.
