T20 WC: Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Chris Morris not included in SA squad

The experienced trio Faf du Plessis Imran Tahir and Chris Morris have not been included in South Africas squad for the mens T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates UAEVictor Mptisang the convenor of selectors announced the squad led by Temba Bavuma in a live television broadcast on ThursdayThe 37yearold Faf du Plessis who retired from Test cricket in February this year had spoken in the past about the upcoming tournament as one of his targets But du Plessis hasnt played a whiteball match for South Africa since December 2020 and was not a part of South Africas series against Pakistan West Indies Ireland and currently Sri LankaFaf has got a wonderful record But at the moment we want to be consistent in the selection and this is the group of players we have gone with said MptisangSimilarly Tahir had made himself available for T20Is after retiring from ODIs post the 2019 Cricket World Cup But he has not been included Morris the pacebowling allrounder last played for South Africa in March 2019 All three players had been active in franchise leagues around the worldSAs whiteball team captain Temba Bavuma who had to leave the Sri Lanka tour after a thumb fracture is expected to recover in time to captain his side at the T20 World Cup Bavuma went under the knife on Sunday and is expected to be fit before the tournament begins He will lead a 15player squad with three frontline spinners in Tabraiz Shamsi Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn FortuinMaharaj has played 36 Tests and 14 ODIs for South Africa But he has been uncapped in the shortest format of international cricket Maharaj though has played 104 T20s scalping 83 wickets at an economy rate of 662Its the subcontinent and with the IPL being played before the tournament so we know the wickets will take a lot of spin We have to look at the balance of the squad There is no better time than now for us to bring home the trophy and bring the nation together in a way that only sport canWe hope that South Africans will rally behind this team and cheer them all the way to the final said MptisangThe players selected in the fifteen as well as travelling reserves will take part in the threematch T20I series against Sri Lanka starting from Friday barring Lungi Ngidi The pacer has left for Dubai to join his IPL side Chennai Super Kings ahead of the second leg of the IPL 2021South Africa begin their mens T20 World Cup campaign against Australia on October 23 in Abu Dhabi The first match of the Proteas in Group 1 will also open the super 12 stage of the tournament Other teams in their group include 2010 winners England defending champions West Indies and two qualifiers from the first roundSquad Temba Bavuma captain Keshav Maharaj Quinton de Kock wicketkeeper Bjorn Fortuin Reeza Hendricks Heinrich Klaasen Aiden Markram David Miller Wiaan Mulder Lungi Ngidi Anrich Nortje Dwaine Pretorius Kagiso Rabada Tabraiz Shamsi and Rassie van der DussenReserves George Linde Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad WilliamsAlso Read Sandeep Patil I hope MS Dhonirsquos role doesnrsquot end hereThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliabilitsy and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever