South Africa’s in-form skipper Temba Bavuma, who is currently in India for the 2023 ICC World Cup, will fly back home for family reasons.
Bavuma, 33, will now miss their warm-up games but he will reportedly be back in India for the Proteas’ campaign opener against Sri Lanka on October 7.
Notably, South Africa will take on Afghanistan and New Zealand on September 29 and October 2 as a part of their warm-up games at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The South Africa skipper has not revealed the reason behind his sudden return to his home. In his absence, all-rounder Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas in the two warm-up games.
In a statement, Cricket South Africa (CSA) informed about Bavuma’s inavailability for the warm-up games.
“Bavuma will miss the two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand on 29 September and 02 October respectively. Aiden Markram will captain the side in his absence,” it said.
Notably, Bavuma has been in terrific form this year as he has averaged 79.62 with a strike rate of 104.08 in 10 games.
Earlier, South Africa had dealt a massive blow as pacers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala were ruled out of the upcoming Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 due to their respective injuries.
The CSA later named all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and seam bowler Lizaad Williams as the duo’s replcement in the 15-member squad.
Nortje had suffered lower back spasms during the second ODI against Australia earlier this month.
The CSA added Nortje underwent specialist assessments and scans, which have suspected low back (lumbar) stress fracture and will be under the care of a specialist team on the next steps in his recovery.
On Magala, the CSA said he was given every opportunity for a full recovery and participation. “Ultimately it was decided that the risk associated with his inclusion in the squad outweighed his obvious value to the team,” it added.
Earlier, Nortje had also missed the 2019 ODI World Cup in England due to a fractured right thumb.
The Proteas will begin their ODI World Cup campaign against 1996 champions Sri Lanka at the historic Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital on October 7.
South Africa WC squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and Lizaad Williams