JOHANNESBURG: Veteran stimulator Dale Steyn was excluded from Cricket South Africa’s national contracts for the 2020-21 season, even though left arm designer Beuran Hendricks was included in the list of 16 members.
Steyn, 36, had returned in February after being injured for the past three years, hoping to participate in the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup in Australia in October.
However, the South African board has trusted the young players, granting contract improvements to young bowler Anrich Nortje, multi-purpose Dwaine Pretorius and drummer Rassie van der Dussen – who played more games last season .
Former skipper Faf du Plessis has also been offered a new contract by the board, suggesting that he will be an important member of the busy summer team, which includes home testing against Sri Lanka and Australia.
“We have hired 16 male and 14 female players, which seems to be the appropriate number to keep our national teams in all formats,” CSA interim director general Jacques Faul said on Monday.
“This allows us to contract both our test players and those who are specialists in limited overs.”
South Africa also has a T20 series against India at home and abroad in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The CSA said that “successful and selected players for the Proteas in the 2020/21 season who are not under contract can qualify for an upgrade of the national contract”.
“We have decided to keep the 17th men’s contract open for the time being and the players can qualify through performance,” said Faul.
In the female category, Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta obtained contract upgrades in the past season.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, CSA has currently suspended all forms of cricket in the country for the next two months, including first class cricket, List A cricket (Momentum Cup), semi-cricket professional and provincial; as well as all junior and amateur cricket matches.
The series of three ODIs from South Africa to India has also been canceled due to the spread of the deadly disease and the players are currently in quarantine.
CSA male 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
Contract players: Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk, Laura Wolvaardt.
