Stubbs, Rickelton dropped for T20 World Cup as Jason Smith is named in Proteas 15-player squad

Proteas batter and Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs has been excluded from the Proteas squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that is set to get underway in India next month.

Stubbs, following a lean patch in the green and gold, particularly in the shortest format, has been excluded from South Africa’s squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Fast bowler Ottneil Baartman, batters Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen are also set to miss out on the showpiece event.

T20 International (T20I) captain Aiden Markram will lead the side, which includes maiden T20 World Cup call ups for Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, and Jason Smith.

Smith, who made his T20I debut in 2024, boasts a strike-rate of 128.30. One of his most recent standout performances came in the T20 Challenge, where he struck an unbeaten 68 off 19 balls to steer the Hollywoodbets Dolphins into the playoffs in November.

He is currently representing MI Cape Town in the Betway SA20. Kagiso Rabada returns to the T20I setup after missing the recent white-ball tour against India due to a rib injury.

Another notable inclusion is paceman Anrich Nortje, who finished as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker at the 2024 edi4on of the T20 World Cup, where South Africa ended as runners-up.

The squad also includes experienced bacers Quinton de Kock and David Miller, along with spinner Keshav Maharaj, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and all-rounder Marco Jansen.

South Africa are drawn in Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, and will begin their campaign on 09 February against Canada in Ahmedabad.

“Firstly, I would like to congratulate the players who will be represen4ng South Africa at their maiden T20 World Cup. This is an incredible opportunity for them in what was a difficult squad to select,” Convenor Selector for the Proteas Men Patrick Moroney commented.

“We have had to make some big calls, but we feel this group is the strongest and has every chance of succeeding in India and Sri Lanka. We have assembled a world-class squad with some of the finest and most experienced players in the game, together with some of the best T20 youngsters coming through.”

Proteas Men’s head coach Shukri Conrad weighed in on the squad.

“We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently competed against hosts India. The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournament,” Conrad said. “Many of the players selected for the World Cup squad were on that trip and experienced first-hand the pitches that we will likely encounter and that will stand them in good stead once we get to India.

“We do have one more T20I series against the West Indies before we depart for the World Cup, and that squad will be announced later this month.”

South Africa Men’s Squad - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

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 Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Smith.