Proteas coach Mark Boucher was grilled on Thursday over his team selection in the T20I series against Pakistan.
Heading into today’s final match of the four-match series 2-1 behind and desperate to save face after a humiliating nine-wicket defeat on Wednesday, Boucher had to field questions over selection ahead of the crunch clash.
The biggest sore point is the continued exclusion of Cape Cobras ace Kyle Verreynne, who scored 62 runs off 53 balls in the third and final ODI against Pakistan last week.
Asked whether he had any provincial bias in selecting his team, Boucher reminded the media that he is part of a selection panel headed by Victor Mpitsang.
He says: “I am one of four selectors – we go about selecting guys from a squad that’s been selected for us to try and win a game of cricket.”
On the topic of Verreynne, he adds: “Kyle has been selected as back-up wicketkeeper to
Heinrich Klaasen. And if there was an issue with one of our top three, Wihan Lubbe was selected to come in...
“I understand Kyle had a very good ODI game in his last game – but that’s ODI cricket, T20 is a bit different.”
Whether Verreynne will come in to try and help the team win the match at Centurion Park today to draw the series remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Boucher revealed that the door is still open for AB de Villiers to force his way into October’s T20 World Cup squad.
He says of the 37-year-old batsman: “I did chat to him before he went over to IPL and the conversation is still very much open.
“AB being the person that he is, wanted to perform very well at the IPL to prove to himself and everyone else that he is still very much a key figure in world cricket and can dominate at that level.
“And then I said to him you you to your thing and I will give you a shout towards the back end of the IPL and see where you are.”