Record picture of Aiden Markram
The South African squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting March 19, features top-order batter Aiden Markram, pace sensation Anrich Nortje, and wicketkeeper-batter Sinethemba Qeshile.
Both Markram and Nortje were instrumental in the recent 5-0 ODI whitewash and will play the full T20I series, whereas Qeshile will only feature in the final two fixtures.
Nortje has hit the ground running in his ODI debut tour, taking eight wickets in four matches with an average of 18.75. Markram also shone in the closing games, recording a career-best 67* in the fifth ODI.
Sinethemba Qeshile earns his call-up following an impressive run in domestic cricket, where he maintains a first-class average of 48.11 and a List A average of 41.22, including one century and three fifties in 12 appearances.
Linda Zondi, the CSA National Selection Panel convener, praised Sinethemba Qeshile, stating that his debut year in first-class cricket has been phenomenal and describing him as a truly exciting prospect and one of the top domestic batsmen right now.
Zondi further explained that the T20I format has been used as a strategic gateway to cultivate new talent, noting that this approach has successfully integrated players like Rassie van der Dussen, Gihahn Cloete, Janneman Malan, and Lutho Sipamla into the national setup over the last season.
With Faf du Plessis unavailable for the later games, JP Duminy will take over the captaincy for the second and third matches. Hashim Amla remains out for personal reasons, while Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungo Ngidi are slated to return for the final two matches.
The lineup for the first T20I includes Faf du Plessis (C), Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, and Rassie van der Dussen. For the second and third T20Is, the squad will be led by JP Duminy (C) and feature Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Dale Steyn, and Rassie van der Dussen.
Team (second and third T20Is): JP Duminy (C), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
The T20I series opens on March 19 in Cape Town, followed by a second match in Centurion on March 22, and concluding on March 25 in Johannesburg.