T20I squad for west indies series announced | West Indies vs South Africa

South Africa T20I SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES SERIES ANNOUNCED

The 15-player team for the forthcoming three-match T20 International (T20I) series against the West Indies, which begins later this month in Trinidad and Tobago, was announced today by White-ball head coach Rob Walter.

Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka of the DP World Lions and all-rounder Jason Smith of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins have been called up for the first time to the national team.

Smith, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman, made 291 runs at an average of 41.57 and a strike rate of 134.10 during the campaign. Smith scored 51 against the Lions in the 2023/24 CSA T20 Challenge final. His medium speed gives the bowling attack one another option. 

The 18-year-old Maphaka, on the other hand, was a member of the ICC U19 Men's World Cup 2024 team and, with his 21 wickets at an average of 9.71 as Player of the Tournament, was crucial to the junior Proteas' semi-final outcome. Earlier this year, he also made his debut in the Indian Premier League as a local Twenty20 player for the Lions and Mumbai Indians.

After making his Twenty20 International debut against the West Indies in May, Lions spinner Nqaba Peter is now recovering from a shoulder injury and will not play in the series.

Walter offered the following commentary on the team: "A number of players were not selected for this series because they were either injured, undergoing a workload-management conditioning block, or they were playing in continuing T20 tournaments.

"With this tour, we can keep growing our player base while retaining our core of seasoned players." Like our previous game against the West Indies in May, it will also present our budding potential to elite international competition.

"We're thrilled to have Kwena Maphaka and Jason Smith join the team for this series. Jason has been playing really well lately, and his versatility as a batsman and ballplayer gives our lineup much-needed depth.

"Kwena has been identified as a player with significant potential. This tour offers him a great opportunity to gain valuable international experience while interacting with the Proteas team."

South Africa Twenty20 team versus the West Indies
Momentum Multiply Titans captain Aiden Markram, Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nandre Burger (World Sports Betting Western Province), Donovan Ferreira (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), and Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans).

T20I Series (local time exclusively)

August 23, Friday, at 15:00 (or 21:00 SAST)
South Africa versus the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago

August 25, Sunday, at 15:00 (or 21:00 SAST)
South Africa versus the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago

August 27, Tuesday, at 15:00 (or 21:00 SAST)
South Africa versus the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago