Kwena Maphaka and Donovan Ferreira have been named in South Africa’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced a 15-member Proteas squad on Friday.
Kwena Maphaka, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has taken 15 wickets in 13 T20I matches for the Proteas.
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At 19 years and 124 days old, the teenage pacer became the youngest bowler from full member cricket nations to take four wickets in a T20I match after finishing with career-best figures of 4/20 against Australia last August.
His fiery spell in the match helped South Africa bowl out Australia for the first time in T20 cricket.
Maphaka had made his T20I debut against the West Indies in August 2024 and became the youngest player to ever play an international game for South Africa at the age of 18 years and 137 days.
He was also crowned the T20 Challenge Player of the Season at the CSA Awards 2024-25 after a solid campaign in the domestic tournament, which saw him finish as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps.
Maphaka will be joined in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad by fellow Royals player Donovan Ferreira.
The 27-year-old all-rounder returned to the Royals setup in November courtesy of a trade that saw Nitish Rana move to the Delhi Capitals.
Donovan Ferreira, who was also previously a part of the Royals squad in the IPL 2024 season, has scored 240 runs at a strike rate of 155.84 for the Proteas. He has also taken a couple of scalps in national colours.
Overall, Donovan Ferreira has scored almost 2500 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 168.28.
South Africa have been placed in Group D alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada in the T20 World Cup.
They will begin their campaign on February 9 with a clash against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
