South Africa Names Six Uncapped Players for First Tri-Series ODI; MI Pacer Returns

Cricket South Africa (CSA) received massive news before their opening game of the tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand. Most of the first-close Protea players will miss the three games, ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, because of their respective commitments with the SA20 franchises.

Gerald Coetzee has recovered from his left hamstring injury that restricted his SA20 journey to one appearance for the Johannesburg Super Kings (JSK) and is also part of the 12-man squad.

Their head coach, Rob Walter, names the side for the opening day clash against New Zealand on January 20 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Senuran Muthusamy has been added to South Africa’s tri-series squad

The squad has as many as six uncapped players but will change after the franchise league ends on February 08. For the opening game, Walter will have Meeka-eel Prince to choose for the batting department. The youngster has managed 414 runs in 11 List-A innings at an average of 37.33.

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The 25-year-old fast bowler for South Africa Gideon Peters has enjoyed 21 wickets in 16 List A innings at an average of 30.28. Eathan Bosch is another young Dolphins’ pacer in the side, who has bagged 45 List A wickets in 37 innings at an average of 30.37.

Matthew Breetzke recently made his Test debut at Mirpur against Bangladesh. He finds a place in the squad after featuring in 10 T20Is for the national side to record 151 runs in 10 innings at an average of 16.77 and a strike rate of 122.76. Senuran Muthusamy has been part of four red-ball clashes for the Rainbow Nation and has been included in the squad.

The other players make the squad after the SA20 eliminator between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings on February 05, as the CSA mentioned in a statement. Keshav Maharaj and the wicket-keeper Heinrich Klassen will be available for South Africa’s second ODI of the series.

Protea's right-handed aggressive batter has drilled 1987 runs in 53 ODI innings at an average of 43.19 and a strike rate of 117. In the recent 2025 season of the SA20, he smacked 198 runs at a strike rate of 134.69. The remainder of South Africa’s squad will be announced on February 09 after the SA20 final.

South Africa’s first-choice players to miss tri-series

The series has so much importance to the three participating sides since it will be the last set of games for them before the ICC event in Pakistan. Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host India's clashes.

Ryan Rickelton, Kagiso Rabada, and Rassie van der Dussen play for the MI Cape Town and have already qualified for the final of the 20-over league. Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen will feature on Wednesday’s eliminator in Centurion, while David Miller will be part of the second qualifier.

None of these players will be part of the tri-series. They will leave for Pakistan on February 14, the same day of the tri-series final at the National Stadium in Karachi. They will open their campaign on the third day against Afghanistan in Karachi. The others in the group are Australia and England.

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Temba Bavuma, who didn’t play in the SA20 2025 season, will be leading the side and leaving for Lahore on Wednesday evening with the support staff.

South Africa Squad For First ODI vs New Zealand In Tri-series

Temba Bavuma (captain), Eathan Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Junior Dala, Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Gideon Peters, Meeka-eel Prince, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne.