Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka and opener Lhuan-dré Pretorius, both part of the Rajasthan Royals set-up in the Indian Premier League, have been named in the South African cricket team for the upcoming white-ball tour of Namibia.
South Africa will first compete in a T20I tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe, beginning on August 28 in Windhoek, before taking on the hosts in a three-match ODI series from September 9.
The two are part of a 15-member squad that will be led by new captain Bjorn Fortuin, with the same group selected for both the T20I and ODI assignments.
“We’ve selected one squad for both series as we feel we have all departments well covered and it provides a great opportunity for players to build on their international caps,” South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said.
The tour will give Maphaka and Pretorius another opportunity to build their international careers, with both youngsters having already featured for South Africa across the white-ball formats.
Maphaka has picked up 18 wickets from 18 T20I matches and five scalps from three ODIs.
Pretorius, meanwhile, has played three ODIs for the Proteas and averages 47.33. He made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Faisalabad in November last year, scoring 57.
The opener also has a T20I fifty to his name, which came against New Zealand in the final of the Zimbabwe T20 Tri-Series in Harare last year.
Last month, Pretorius scored his maiden T20 century, smashing an unbeaten 102 off 52 balls for San Francisco against New York in Dallas.
The T20I tri-series will begin with South Africa taking on the hosts Namibia.
The Proteas will then face Zimbabwe on August 29 before returning to action against Zimbabwe and Namibia in the remaining league matches. The final is scheduled for September 6.
South Africa will then stay in Windhoek for a three-match ODI series against Namibia, beginning on September 9. The second ODI will be played on September 11, followed by the third and final match on September 13.
South Africa squad for Namibia 2026 tour
South African cricket team: Bjorn Fortuin (captain), Eathan Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Duan Jansen, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Jason Smith and Prenelan Subrayen.
