Batsman Ryan Rickelton has replaced the injured Tony de Zorzi in South Africa’s squad for next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Rickelton was preferred to Reeza Hendricks, among others. Hendricks is South Africa’s third-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket.
“When we did the replacement with Tony injured, we needed to make the best possible cricketing decision, and that, unfortunately, was not highlighted by any other player of colour,” Cricket South Africa selection convenor Patrick Moroney told Independent Media.
“That’s why we leant on Rickelton to come into the squad. We needed to pick the best possible team to go to the T20 World Cup.”
With de Zorzi sidelined, South Africa’s 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup squad includes five rather than six players of colour – spinner Keshav Maharaj, all-rounder Jason Smith and seamers Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi.
“We’re in line with the government when it comes to Eminent Persons’ Groups, as all other sporting codes are,” added Moroney.
“We try, where possible, to obtain, to include a total nation when it comes to involvement at the highest level. So, that is always an objective for us.”
Of the five players of colour, Smith is the only batsman.
“I can’t necessarily guarantee [Smith playing] because the final XI that we select, we select on the conditions of the wicket, where we are in the tournament, and how things are progressing,” concluded Moroney.
Batsman Tristan Stubbs, like Rickelton, was an addition to the squad. Stubbs replaced the injured Donovan Ferreira.
South Africa’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad
- Aiden Markram (captain)
- Quinton de Kock
- Dewald Brevis
- David Miller
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Kwena Maphaka
- Lungi Ngidi
- Jason Smith
- George Linde
- Corbin Bosch
- Anrich Nortje
- Ryan Rickelton
- Tristan Stubbs