He will lead the side in the absence of Aiden Markram.
South Africa recently named a 15-member squad for their upcoming three-match T20I home series against Pakistan, slated to be played from December 10-14. The news was confirmed via an official press release.
However, coach Rob Walter have decided to name a new leader for the side in the absence of Aiden Markram, who is currently with the Proteas Test side playing against Sri Lanka. Indian Premier League (IPL) stalwart Heinrich Klaasen, who plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and made headlines back in October after becoming the highest paid retention at INR 23 crores, will now be taking over the captaincy reins for the South Africa T20I team.
Speaking about the decision, coach Walter said, “In the absence of Aiden, Heinrich will lead the team. He is a vastly experienced player with a strong understanding and reading of the game. We look forward to utilising him in this role after his previous experiences in 2021.
After the culmination of the three-match SA vs PAK T20I leg, the teams will next lock horns in as many ODIs, starting from December 17.
Aiden Markram, along with all-format players Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs, will be forced to skip the T20I series due to just a single day gap between the Sri Lanka Test series and the Pakistan T20I leg.
However, they are set to rejoin the squad for the ODl series against Pakistan as part of their preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
South Africa squad for Pakistan T20I series:
Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane and Rassie van der Dussen.
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