Anrich Nortje named in South Africa T20 World Cup squad

Anrich Nortje, who has not played international cricket for close to eight months, has been named in the Aiden Markram-led South Africa squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. 

Opener Ryan Rickelton and seamer Ottniel Baartman, who haven't played a single T20I for the Proteas but had an outstanding SA20 earlier this year, are also part of the 15-man squad. 

Rickelton has played four Tests and two ODIs for South Africa. In 2024 SA20, the 27-year-old slammed 530 runs in 10 innings at an average of 58.88 and a strike rate of 173.77. Apart from him, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks are the other two openers in the set-up.

Meanwhile, Baartman finished this year's SA20 as the second-highest wicket-taker. The 31-year-old seamer claimed 18 wickets across eight innings at an average of 11.77 and an economy rate of just 6.95.

"Selecting this group was extremely tough considering the amount of T20 cricket that has been played recently and the form that has been on show. I want to congratulate the two uncapped players, Ryan and Ottniel, on their selection," said head coach Rob Walter.

"We have seen some incredible performances from our players in 2024 and that made my job very tough indeed. I am nonetheless proud and confident that we have named the strongest possible squad that no doubt has every chance of success in the West Indies and USA."

As expected, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are also part of the squad. Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi have been named in the reserves, with the Proteas preferring Nortje over them. 

The tearaway quick has been playing for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League but has been in terrible form. In six matches, Nortje has taken seven wickets at an average of 42 and an economy rate of 13.36.

The three spinners are Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin. South Africa's middle order will be their biggest strength, with Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Markram all in decent hitting form.

Faf du Plessis, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Rassie van der Dussen and Matthew Breetzke are some of the major absentees. Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw and Wayne Parnell, who all featured in the 2022 T20 World Cup, have also been left out. 

South Africa are placed in Group D alongside Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nepal and Sri Lanka. They will start their T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on June 3 in New York.

Squad - Aiden Markram ( c ), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs

Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi

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