South Africa's leading wicket taker at the T20 2024 World Cup Anrich Nortje (L) will hope to repeat that feat in this year's edition

Johannesburg (AFP) - Injury-prone fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Friday named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

The 32-year-old has had a long battle with injuries but returned to action when he played in two internationals against India last month.

He was South Africa’s leading bowler in the 2024 World Cup, taking 15 wickets in nine matches.

Nortje, fellow paceman Kagiso Rabada and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj were included despite seldom playing for their country since the 2024 tournament.

Rabada has been used sparingly in the shortest format and played in only five of South Africa’s 29 T20 internationals since they were beaten by India in the 2024 final in Barbados.

He missed the series in India because of a rib injury but returned to action in the current SA20 franchise tournament.

Maharaj has also played in only five matches since the Barbados match.

There were several surprises among the batsmen with Tristan Stubbs, veteran Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton missing out, while Tony de Zorzi and Jason Smith, each with only two T20I caps, were selected.

Selection convener Patrick Moroney said “big decisions” had to be made about the batting order.

The key element he said is the need to make a strong start in the power play and fielding an attacking middle order in which Dewald Brevis, David Miller and Donovan Ferreira are expected to play key roles.

He added the hard-hitting Smith offered versality while De Zorzi, who is presently recovering from a hamstring injury, was a top-order option.

Moroney said the SA20 provided the players with a good opportunity to hone their skills leading up to three T20 internationals against the West Indies later this month before they depart for India.

South Africa won only six out of 18 T20 internationals in 2025 but were seldom at full strength as key players were rested or injured.

A total of 31 different players appeared in the matches.

Squad:

Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Smith.