Klaasen to lead T20 side vs Pakistan instead of Aiden Markram as the Proteas name a much-changed side for the series.
Klaasen to lead South Africa in their home T20I series against Pakistan in the absence of Markram.
The Pakistan T20Is, which are set for December 10–14, will be missed by Markram and a number of other all-format players, including Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs. The second Test match against Sri Lanka ends on December 9. However, as part of their last Champions Trophy preparations, these players will play in the ODI series against Pakistan in early 2025.
Aside from that, Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje have made their first appearances for the T20I team since the June T20 World Cup. George Linde, an all-rounder who last participated in a Twenty20 International match against Ireland in July 2021, has also been included in the team. He has participated in 14 Twenty20 Internationals and had a strong showing in the CSA T20 Challenge this season, taking nine wickets at an average of 18.33 and scoring 171 runs at a strike rate of 178.12.
That apart, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi have returned to the T20I side for the first time since the T20 World Cup in June. Allrounder George Linde has also been named in the squad, after having last played a T20I in July 2021, against Ireland. He has played 14 T20Is and had an impressive performance in this season’s CSA T20 Challenge, scoring 171 runs at a strike rate of 178.12 and claiming nine wickets at an average of 18.33.
South Africa have not won a single bilateral series this year under Walter. He was asked if he felt under the pump. “I feel the most pressure from myself personally. I want the team to be better. Expect the team to play better and that starts with me as the head coach. We are in the results business.”
From December 6–8, the team will hold a two-day camp at the Centre of Excellence in Pretoria to start getting ready. The first game will be played in Durban on Sunday. They will then play back-to-back games in Centurion and Johannesburg on December 13 and 14, respectively.