ISLAMABAD: South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of Pakistan due to a calf injury, while wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock will make a surprise return to the national side.
Media reports said Bavuma sustained the injury during the recent England tour and will continue his rehabilitation. In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead the Test side. Selectors also recalled Lions batter Zubayr Hamza, who recently struck a century for South Africa A against New Zealand A.
The squad faces further setbacks as left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj will only be available for the second Test. As a result, selectors named 36-year-old off-spinner Simon Harmer, who last played for South Africa in March 2023. The squad also includes spinners Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen, whose bowling actions were cleared by the ICC after the recent Australia tour.
Selection chief Patrick Moroney surprised many by recalling senior wicketkeeper-batter de Kock. The 32-year-old retired from ODI cricket after South Africa’s semi-final defeat to Australia at the 2023 World Cup, and he has not played international cricket since featuring in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India in Barbados.
In white-ball cricket, Donovan Ferreira and Warriors wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile earned maiden ODI call-ups, while Titans batter Rivaldo Moonsamy joined the T20 squad for a series against Namibia. The match will mark Namibia’s first limited-overs contest against South Africa and will also serve as the official inauguration of the Namibia Cricket Ground, one of the venues for the 2027 World Cup.
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Commenting on the tour, Moroney said South Africa’s World Test Championship title defense would begin in Pakistan. “This is the start of another important cycle, and the white-ball series will give us valuable opportunities to build squad depth and prepare the best combination for the World Cup,” he said.
