Ryan Rickelton: I don’t worry about what other people think anymore

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Ryan Rickelton ProteasRyan Rickelton.

Posted By: Editorial May 18, 2024

Batsman Ryan Rickelton has sympathised with Lions team-mate Rassie van der Dussen’s exclusion from South Africa’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Van der Dussen will captain South Africa against the West Indies in T20I cricket this month, but has not been named in the squad for the T20 World Cup in the United States of America and Caribbean next month. Rickelton has been included in the T20 World Cup squad.

“Our relationship was strained. Neither of us messaged each other. It was a tough one,” said Rickelton.

“We are very, very close and I probably was in the wrong for not calling. I was extremely gutted for him. We did actually chat about it, I did give my sympathies to him and he sent congratulations to me, but our relationship is still strong and solid as ever.

“I do feel for him, he is a phenomenal player and would walk into most squads around the world. When I looked at the balance of the Proteas squad, it was either him or me.”

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Rickelton was the leading run-scorer in the SA20 earlier this year. He played for the MI Cape Town. Rickelton has played four Tests and two ODIs, but has not yet been capped in T20I cricket.

“I don’t worry about what other people think anymore. I’ve put in some numbers, I’ve had a few opportunities, but I’m still looking to get a hold on international cricket,” he added.

“If I can find my feet early enough in international cricket, that will unburden me and give me a great opportunity to just go for it.”

South Africa have been pooled with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal in group D at this year’s T20 World Cup. The Proteas have never won the tournament. They were losing semi-finalists in 2009 and 2014.

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