Proteas set to experiment in Pakistan T20s
Updated | By Nick Tatham
As South Africa jet off to Pakistan for a first tour to the sub-continental nation since 2007, coach Mark Boucher has suggested that there will be some new faces for the T20 series following the two test matches.
Given the hectic schedule that the Proteas have this summer they need to be back in South Africa for a test series against Australia that starts just four days after the conclusion of the T20 series in Pakistan.
Boucher understands that it could be a logistical hot potato when it comes to splitting the squad but ultimately he has put emphasis on a test series against Australia at home rather than the T20 series in the sub-continent.
"I'd say it won't be our strongest team [for the T20 series in Pakistan], the emphasis is probably more on the test series against Australia and rightly so," Boucher said.
"It might be a bit of a watered down Proteas T20 team; at the start of the season I did allude to the fact that we're going to have to use a lot of players.
"This is an opportunity for some of the younger players to put their hands up.
"It's not a bad thing for SA Cricket," Boucher added.
With the 2020 season decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic, being able to still play cricket whilst dealing with the pandemic is a positive and this means more cricket for the Proteas. The side has a very busy schedule which means a larger group of players up for selection, a situation that Boucher wouldn't ideally want to be in.
"It's not ideal to throw guys into the deep end and play international cricket when they're maybe not ready, but we don't have many other choices.
"Some of them are going to have to be pushed and we'll see how they respond."
The players won't be completely without guidance with assistant coach Enoch Nkwe and a few senior players to lead them.
"We'll have some seniority in the white ball series and they'll have to lead from the front," the coach said.
Nkwe's role with the side for the white ball series is not confirmed as of yet however given the schedule it seems like there are no other options.
"The initial talk was that Enoch might stay over in Pakistan with the T20 squad and I'll come back," Boucher explained. "We're trying to split the management as well as we can, this is to show the importance of both series.
"I'm not sure what the final decision is; we are preparing for most of our management to come back and one or two staying over."
The Proteas T20 squad will be announced next week.
The Proteas Test squad to Pakistan is as follows:
Quinton de Kock (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (Imperial Lions), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kagiso Rabada (Imperial Lions), Dwaine Pretorius (Imperial Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Imperial Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Imperial Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Six Gun Gill Cape Cobras), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), George Linde (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras), Daryn Dupavillon (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
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