Van der Dussen Named South Africa T20I Captain for Tri-Series Against Zimbabwe, New Zealand

Thursday - 26/06/2025 09:50

The new-look squad has four new faces while Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger make their return

Rassie van der Dussen has been named captain of the South African squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Harare, featuring New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

Rassie van der Dussen to lead South Africa

Rassie van der Dussen will lead SA in the absence of regular skipper Aiden Markram © Getty

Van der Dussen steps into the leadership role in the absence of regular captain Aiden Markram, who is among several senior players rested as part of workload management strategies. This provides an opportunity for new faces to showcase their talent.

Fresh Talent and Returning Players

The squad includes exciting young opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who impressed with his performance in the SA20 league, earning his first international call-up. Corbin Bosch, already experienced in ODIs and Tests, will aim to make his mark in the T20I format. Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy are the other uncapped players selected for the series, adding depth and potential to the team.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius: Maiden call-up after SA20 success
Corbin Bosch: Opportunity to debut in T20Is
Rubin Hermann: Rewarded for SA20 performance
Senuran Muthusamy: Adds experience across formats

Burger and Coetzee Return

South Africa receives a boost with the return of pacers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee, both recovering from injuries and currently participating in MLC. Dewald Brevis is also set to make his comeback, having last played for South Africa nearly two years ago.

Preparation for the T20 World Cup

This T20I tri-series marks Shukri Conrad's first T20I assignment as the all-format coach. The series commences on July 14 with South Africa facing Zimbabwe, and the final is scheduled for July 26.

"This T20I tri-series marks the start of our preparation for next year's T20 World Cup," said Conrad. He added, "With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates space for these players to step in and show what they can offer, and bring them into contention for World Cup selection."

Conrad further commented on the selection of Lhuan-dre and Rubin, stating that they "have been rewarded for their outstanding domestic form in the SA20 and we're excited to see how they adapt to the demands of international cricket. We know what Corbin has to offer at this level and we are keen to see how his Test and ODI skills will translate to the T20I arena."