Published: Sep 05, 2019, 12:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 05, 2019, 12:51 PM (IST)
South Africa have called up uncapped George Linde to their T20I squad as the replacement for Jon-Jon Smuts, who has been ruled out due to a failure in meeting the fitness standards, the board announced today.
Cape Cobras left-arm spinner Linde is a part of the ongoing India A versus South Africa A five-match one-day series.
After registering a duck in the opening match, the allrounder bounced back with a score of 52 not out and also scalped a wicket in the second game. In the third one-day, Linde scored 17 and dismissed Ishan Kishan and Nitish Rana. He was benched for the fourth one-day that was pushed into the reserve day following persistent rain yesterday.
#BreakingNews George Linde receives national call-up, replaces Jon-Jon Smuts https://t.co/43qEMgOz9L #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/xdidVJoISv
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) September 5, 2019
Linde has played 75 T20s in which he has scored 611 runs at 17.45. The left-arm spinner also has 77 wickets in his account.
Smuts, an experienced campaigner, has played 132 T20s, donning the national cap eight times. His previous T20I came against India in February last year in Centurion.
The members of the South Africa cricket team will be flying to India on Friday. Quinton de Kock will be leading South Africa for the first time in the shortest format, having been named as captain for the series replacing Faf du Plessis. The likes of Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Anrich Nortje and Linde are all involved in the ongoing series against India A.
The three-match T20I series kicks off on September 15 with the first T20I to be played in Dharamsala.
South Africa’s updated squad for India T20Is: Quinton de Kock (capt/wk)), Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde.
