South Africa captain ruled out of T20 series against Pakistan

South African captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the four-match twenty20 international (T20I) series against Pakistan starting Saturday due to a hamstring strain.

The Proteas skipper was injured while batting during the third and final one-day international (ODI) that Pakistan won in Centurion on Wednesday.

The loss of Bavuma is a huge blow to an already depleted South African squad as the home team is playing without its five keys players including Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje who have left the home series to participate in the Indian Premier League.

The captain’s absence will further weaken South Africa’s top six, especially as the experienced Reeza Hendricks has withdrawn from the squad after the birth of his first child, while the in-form Rassie van der Dussen is doubtful for the first match of the series, at least, with a grade one left quadriceps strain.

Heinrich Klaasen will captain the side in the absence of Bavuma, while opening batsman Aiden Markram, all-rounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Wiaan Mulder, and seamer Daryn Dupavillon have been added to the squad from the one that took part in the ODI series.

The opening T20 match is in Johannesburg on Saturday.

South Africa T20 squad:

Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Bjorn Fortuin, Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne, Pite van Biljon, Daryn Dupavillon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe.

Read: ‘No survival if team score below 200 in T20s’: Misbah-ul-Haq

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