- Monday, November 25, 2024
The Proteas are already without their two fast bowlers who were ruled out of the mega tournament due to injury.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FOUR-TIME semi-finalists South Africa’s preparations for the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India have received another blow as their captain Temba Bavuma is flying home for family reasons and will not be able to take part in his team’s two warm-up games against Afghanistan and New Zealand.
The 33-year-old batter, who will play in his first World Cup, recently led his country to a one-day international series win over five-time champions Australia at home.
?#CWC23 TEAM UPDATE ?
?Proteas ODI Captain Temba Bavuma will travel back home due to family reasons
Bavuma misses 2️⃣ #CWC23 warm-up matches
?️Afghanistan ??
?️New Zealand ??Markram will captain in his absence #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/iC3PwcSPrY
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 28, 2023
The Proteas’ T20 captain Aiden Markram will be the stand-in captain in the two warm-up games — against Afghanistan on Friday (29) and New Zealand on Tuesday (2). Both the games will be played at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the southern state of Kerala.
South Africa will play their first match in the tournament against Sri Lanka on October 7 in Delhi. Bavuma is likely to return in time for the opening clash.
Bavuma, who averages more than 54 in the 50-over format, has been in good form of late, hitting an unbeaten ton against the Australians in Bloemfontein in the latest series earlier this month.
South Africa will miss the service of two key fast bowlers — Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala — during the tournament as both have been ruled out due to injury.
