South Africa announce squads for India tour

South Africa’s tour of India begins with the T20 series starting October 2

Cricket South Africa announced their squad for the India tour consisting of three T20’s, five ODI’s and four Tests, ESPNCricinfo reports. Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla will lead the three sides respectively which sees the return of several players who were rested for the Bangladesh series.

Some of the big names making a return are leg-spinner Imran Tahir and De Villiers who was out due to paternity leave. Off-spinner Dane Piedt who played his solitary Test in 2014 has also been called back. Players who have been left out of the Test squad from the one which featured against Bangladesh are wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who has had a turbulent past year and has struggled with his form, Aaron Phangsio and Reeza Hendricks.

Dane Vilas will be the wicketkeeper for the Test side while De Kock has been retained for the T20s and ODIs.

The Proteas kick start their tour in New Delhi where they will play a practice match and that will be followed by the three T20s which begins on October 2. One notable absentee from the T20 squad is injured all-rounder Rilee Rossouw, whose place has been taken by uncapped batsman Khaya Zondo. Rossouw though is expected to return in time for the ODIs.

David Wiese, Veron Philander, Morne van Wyk and Dean Elgar have been dropped from the ODI squad from their last tour with JP Duminy, Chris Morris, and Morne Morkel recalled.

South Africa squads

Test squad: Hashim Amla (capt), AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas.

ODI squad: AB de Villiers (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn.

T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Eddie Leie, David Miller, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, David Wiese, Khaya Zondo

The series will start on the 29th of September with South Africa playing a tour match followed by three T20’s on October 2, 5 and 8, followed by five ODI’s on October 11, 14, 18, 22 and 25. They will then play four Tests at Chandigarh, Bangalore, Nagpur and Delhi respectively.