The Proteas revealed their new core group after CSA announced their contracted players for the 2020/21 season.
Veteran skipper Faf du Plessis’ inclusion confirms that he will still have a role to play in the squad after rumours that he would quit after seeing his captaincy and form criticised of late.
Capetonian left-arm speedster Beuran Hendricks also earned his first central contract.
Warriors fast bowler Anrich Nortje and Lions duo of allrounder Dwaine Pretorius and batsman Rassie van der Dussen all earned contract upgrades during the course of the past season.
The upgrade system will again be in place this year. Those players performing and selected for the Proteas during the 2020/21 season and who are not contracted can qualify for a National Contract upgrade.
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— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
With the current squad group number at 16, acting CEO Jacques Faul says they will keep the 17th open for a player to raise his hand and grab his opportunity.
He says: “This enables us to contract both our Test players as well as those who are limited overs specialists.
“We have decided to keep the 17th men’s contract open for the moment and players can qualify for it through performance.”
The Protea’s engagement over the next 12 months is the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia in October while other scheduled tours include home series against Sri Lanka (Tests), Australia (Tests only), Pakistan (T20 only) and India (T20 only) and away tours to West Indies and Sri Lanka.
CSA contracted men’s players:
Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.
CSA contracted women’s players:
Trisha Chetty (KZN Coastal), Nadine de Klerk (WP), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Shabnim Ismail (KZN Coastal), Sinalo Jafta (WP), Marizanne Kapp (EP), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Lizelle Lee (North West), Sune Luus (Northerns), Zintle Mali (Border), Tumi Sekhukhune (North West), Chloe Tryon (KZN Coastal), Dane van Niekerk (EP), Laura Wolvaardt (WP).