Published: Jan 09, 2017, 09:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 10, 2017, 03:30 PM (IST)
South Africa batting all-rounder Farhaan Behardien has been appointed as T20I captain for their upcoming series against Sri Lanka, commencing January 20. Out of the three T20Is, Behardien will lead the side for the first two games, which will played at Centurion and Johannesburg on January 20 and 22 respectively. The side that Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced includes six debutants: Jon-Jon Smuts, Theunis de Bruyn, Mangaliso Mosehle, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson and Lungi Ngidi. Regular skipper Faf du Plessis has been rested for the series, as it will be followed by an ODI series, starting January 28 at Port Elizabeth.
According to sport24.co.za, CSA Selection Convenor Linda Zondi was quoted saying, “We have decided to rest some of our key senior players for this series. This is the last chance we have to do this, as the ODI series that follows is an important part of our build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy Tournament in England in the middle of the year. Those senior players who are involved in the Indian Premier League will be playing non-stop from now until the end of August with the tours coming up to New Zealand and England in addition to the ICC event.”
Full Cricket Scorecard: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test at Johannesburg
Talking about Behardien’s appointment as the skipper, Zondi said, “Farhaan was one of the standout players in our franchise T20 Challenge, being the second leading run-scorer behind Jon-Jon Smuts and having the best strike rate.”
South African all-rounder David Wiese, who recently opted for the Kolpak contract, was supposed to be selected for the T20I series. Zondi added, “David Wiese was one of our original selections, but he has informed us that he intends to take up a Kolpak contract and has therefore been withdrawn from the squad.”
AB de Villiers had stepped down from the Tests and ODI captaincy in December 2016, handing it over to du Plessis under whom South Africa won an ODI series against Australia, and Test series against Australia as well as Sri Lanka.
De Villiers and pacer Morne Morkel, who were sidelined due to injuries, are expected to play domestic cricket later this month, and depending on their progress, a decision will be taken whether to include them in the final T20I against Sri Lanka, which will be played in Cape Town on January 25.
Squad (for first 2 games): Farhaan Behardien (c), Theunis de Bruyn, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heino Kuhn (wk), David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts
