Maphaka gets call-up, Rabada returns for ODIs; PCB names Aqib as interim coach

Seamer Kwena Maphaka has earned his maiden South Africa call-up to the 50-over team, even as Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Keshav Maharaj mark their return for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.

Maphaka, 18, has played four T20Is for South Africa, after being named Player of the Tournament at this year’s ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, where he took 21 wickets at an average of 9.71.

He joins a fast-bowling department featuring Rabada and Ottneil Baartman, alongside all-rounders Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo. Rabada makes his return to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia in Kolkata.

The squad will be led by Temba Bavuma, who is back after being injured in an ODI against Ireland in October. In the batting department, South Africa are boosted by the return of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, who last featured in an ODI in December 2023 against India.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi is also back in the ODI set-up, especially after opting out of a central contract and has since been a part of the Proteas squad for the ongoing T20Is against Pakistan.

The ODIs against Pakistan, starting from Dec.17 at Boland Park in Paarl, followed by matches in Newlands, Cape Town, on Dec.19 and Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Dec.22, will serve as preparation for South Africa ahead of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.

“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. The bowling line-up features one of the fastest in the game in KG, and this series offers another great opportunity for a young talent like Kwena to come in and learn first-hand from the best.

“In the batting department, we are thrilled to welcome back David and Heinrich, two of the most destructive players in the game. Overall, 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,” said head coach Rob Walter.

Earlier, fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the remainder of South Africa’s ongoing T20I series against Pakistan and the subsequent three-match ODI series due to a left toe injury.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Thursday that Nortje, 31, was initially ruled out of the first T20I between South Africa and Pakistan at Kingsmead in Durban on Tuesday after sustaining a contusion to his left big toe during training ahead of the opening match. It added that subsequent scans on Wednesday revealed a fracture, with Nortje to consult a specialist orthopaedic surgeon to determine the recovery period.

Nortje had made a return to the South Africa T20I side for the Pakistan series, making it the first time of him being in the national set-up since the Men’s T20 World Cup in June, where they finished as runners-up to India. White-ball head coach Rob Walter had said that Nortje was on their radar to play next year’s Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Aqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team following the resignation of red-ball head-coach Jason Gillespie.

Aqib’s first assignment as red-ball head-coach will be the two-match Test series against South Africa during the ongoing all-format tour. The first Test is scheduled at the SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26 to 30 December. The second Test will be played at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from Jan.3-7.

The Pakistan men’s side are currently in South Africa featuring in a three-match T20I series, which will be followed by a three-match ODI series.

Agencies