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Proteas gamble on pace for T20 World Cup assault
ReutersĀ ā¢ Ā January 3rd, 2026 8:11 am
Fit-again Kagiso Rabada will spearhead South Africa's pace-heavy attack in the T20 World Cup | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
South Africa have selected star wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, paceman Anrich Nortje and allrounder Jason Smith in their T20 World Cup squad - but there's no place for Tristan Stubbs.
Aiden Markram will captain the ā side, which contains only two frontline spinners in George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, and will rely greatly on pace on the unhelpful pitches in India and Sri Lanka next āmonth.
Key frontline quick Kagiso Rabada has been included despite missing the last few months with injury, only returning to action in the last week.
Along with Nortje, āhe forms āpart of a pace line-up that also includes Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, āKwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi.
De Kock will likely open the batting after stepping out of retirement late last year, with powerful hitters David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira included.
South Africa have left Tristan Stubbs out of their T20 World Cup squad | Photo: AP
But Stubbs has been left out after a run of indifferent form, āwhile Ryan Rickelton is also dropped.
"We are āreturning to the subcontinent, where we recently competed against hosts India," coach Shukri Conrad said. "The experience we āgained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head āinto this tournament.
"Many of the players selected for the World Cup squad were on that trip and experienced first-hand the pitches that we will ālikely āencounter and that will stand āthem in good stead once we get āto India."
South Africa are drawn in group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, and will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada in Ahmedabad.
South Africa T20 World Cup squad:
Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi āNgidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Smith.
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