Kagiso Rabada may be managed as Proteas get set for Pakistan ODIs

CENTURION: Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter announced a 15-strong player squad that includes the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Heinrich Klaasen for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan at home.

Fast bowlers Rabada and Marco Jansen and batters Temba Bavuma, David Miller and Klaasen make their return to ODI cricket, having missed out on a number of 50-over matches this year.

The 18-year-old speedster Kwena Maphaka has earned his maiden call-up after impressing with raw pace and control in his four T20I matches thus far, while Anrich Nortjé has been ruled out of the Pakistan series due to a toe injury.

With Nortjé sidelined, the list of injured fast bowlers has lengthened given that Lungi Ngidi, Nandré Burger, Lizaad Williams and Gerald Coetzee are also out.

Despite all the injuries, Walter is confident that they all can complete their returns in time for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy.

“It would have been good to have a guy like Anrich available. Gerald has bowled well in the 50-over format, (as well as) Wiaan Mulder, Nandré Burger and Lizzy (Lizaad Williams),” the SA limited-overs coach said yesterday.

“So, it’s a long-ish list, but still, the guys that are in there are quality bowlers, and it is a long time between now and the Champions Trophy, to be fair.

“I’ve got full faith that there’ll be enough time for them to come back and play some SA20 cricket – good and strong short-format cricket before we have to make a decision.

“We have the tri-series, which is going to be impacted by the SA20, so there are opportunities for guys to play before the Champions Trophy does arrive.

“And the names we’re talking about are guys who have played 50-over cricket, so I’m not too worried about them not playing in this series. From a fast-bowling point of view, we worked on developing a band of fast bowlers."

While the Champions Trophy is important, the ongoing World Test Championship probably carries more weight at the moment.

As a result, the involvement of Rabada and some of the Test players that have been included in the ODI squad might have to be managed, as there are two important Tests against Pakistan later this month and into the new year.

“From that point of view, we’ll continue to prioritise these two Tests against Pakistan, which are massively important. The World Test Championship final is something to be striving for,” said Walter.

“If the need is there for us to manage KG, it’s a bit hard to say before the series starts how those three games are going to roll out, and what his workload is going to be in those games.

“But we’ll keep it in the back of our minds. His readiness for those Test matches is important, but as far as I know, he wants to win one-day games for South Africa as well.”

Proteas ODI Squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.