Cricket South Africa announced its squads on Monday for the upcoming tour of Pakistan. The big news is Quinton de Kock coming out of ODI retirement. The wicketkeeper-batter will be part of the white-ball series after stepping away from the format last year.
De cock had revealed his retirement, saying that he would play ODIs for the last time in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, a tournament in which he had participated even in its final. He played his last match for South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in 2024. His inclusion adds strength to the batting order and, in general, to the entire team in their next encounter against Pakistan.
The tour will feature Test matches as well as ODIs and T20Is. Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out due to a calf strain. This is a major setback as he recently led South Africa to win the World Test Championship.
In Bavuma’s absence, Aiden Markram will captain the Test team. Markram has led South Africa in white-ball cricket earlier and now gets the responsibility in the longer format. His leadership will be tested in Pakistan’s conditions.
Cricket South Africa said Temba Bavuma, who led the team to win the World Test Championship, will miss the Pakistan tour due to a calf strain. In Bavuma’s absence, Aiden Markram will lead the side in the Test series set to begin from October 12.”
The announcement highlights a blend of youth and experience in the squads. De Kock’s inclusion after retirement is seen as a move to add stability. South Africa will hope his comeback brings runs and energy against Pakistan.
The series in Pakistan promises to be competitive. Both sides will look to fine-tune their squads with major tournaments on the horizon. De Kock’s return ensures more attention will be on the white-ball games.
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