TheSportsCampus

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday named its final squads for both the Men's and Women's competitions at the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month. AB de Villiers will lead the men's squad and Mignon du Preez the women's squad. The Proteas' men's squad sees the return of De Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel who were all rested for the triangular T20 series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in June.

The only fresh face in the Proteas' men's squad is Farhaan Behardien of the Nashua Titans. The 28-year old made his international bow against India in a T20 International in March earlier this year, smashing an unbeaten 20 from 11 balls. Farhaan has been one of the more consistent T20 performers for his franchise, averaging in excess of 30, and is well capable of hitting some big ones as well.

"We were not able to consider Marchant de Lange through injury," commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson, "but we are confident that our squad will be very competitive and make South Africa proud. We have had basically the same squad together for the past year and many of them also produced stand-out performances at the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"The Proteas will also have excellent preparation for the World Twenty20 by finishing the England tour with three matches there. They may be playing on a different surface to that they will find in Sri Lanka but they will be able to hone their T20 specific skills."

Proteas' squad: AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Sunfoil Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Nashua Titans), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Richard Levi (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Robin Peterson (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Sunfoil Dolphins).

CSA National Proteas Coach for Women, Yashin Ebrahim, announced the following squad of 14 for the ICC World Twenty20:

Mignon du Preez (Northerns, capt), Trisha Chetty (KZN, vice-capt), Susan Benade (Griqua Diamonds), Dinesha Devnarain (KZN), Shandre Fritz (Western Province), Alison Hodgkinson (Boland), Shabnim Ismail (Western Province), Marizanne Kapp (Northerns), Ayabonga Khaka (Border), Marcia Letsoalo (Northerns), Sunette Loubser (Boland), Sune Luus (Northerns), Yolandi van der Westhuizen (Boland), Dane van Niekerk (Northerns).

Ebrahim commented: "Our captain, Mignon du Preez, has played a vital role in our preparations and is growing quickly in this leadership role. Her calm demeanour, both on and off the field, has gelled the squad.

"She will be backed up by some fine individual performers such as her vice-captain, Trisha Chetty, who is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world and is also ranked among the top 10 specialist batsmen, Shandre Fritz, who is our only player to have scored a century in this format and Sunette Loubser, last year's SA Women's Cricketer of the Year."