As Hashim Amla and the skipper Faf du Plessis are going to miss the upcoming home ODI series against the visitors Zimbabwe, JP Duminy will lead the ODI side and Dean Elgar has been included in the ODI squad after almost three years later.
The visitors Zimbabwe will play three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa from September 30 to October 14. Hashim Amla has been ruled out from the ODI series due to a finger injury while the skipper Faf du Plessis has been ruled out from the ODI series due to not fully recovering from the shoulder injury. However, the South Africa team management are hopeful Faf’s return to the home T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Talking about those injuries, the team manager Mohammed Moosajee said, “Hashim sustained a tear to the tendon in his left fifth digit while fielding during the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League. The injury will need up to three weeks to heal making him unavailable for the series against Zimbabwe.
“The CSA medical committee has also withdrawn Faf from the ODI series. He has not made a satisfactory recovery from his shoulder injury and has been given more time to make a complete recovery. We are hopeful he will be fit enough to return to lead the T20 side for the three-match series against Zimbabwe.”
In their absence, the 34-year-old JP Duminy will lead both the ODI and T20I sides. Moreover, the 31-year-old Dean Elgar has returned to the ODI squad after almost three long years as he played his last ODI against India on 25 October 2015 at Mumbai.
National Selection Panel (NSP) convener, Linda Zondi spoke on Elgar’s selection, “We have said that the Zimbabwe series is an opportunity to further explore our ODI options and the unfortunate injury to Hashim gives us an opportunity to see what Dean is capable of in the limited-overs format. He has always been on our radar having put in consistent performances both in South Africa and the UK, and brings a wealth of valuable experience to the batting group in Hashim and Faf’s absence.”
Latest full South African ODI Squad against Zimbabwe in the home three-match ODI series: Dean Elgar, JP Duminy (c), Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Khaya Zondo.
