South Africa Cricket Team Announces Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025

In a significant announcement, Cricket South Africa has unveiled its squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series, which will feature matches against the host nation and New Zealand. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Harare from July 14 to 26, 2025. Among the notable inclusions are Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, and Nandre Burger, all of whom represent the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kwena Maphaka, 19, has already made a name for himself after debuting in T20I cricket against the West Indies in August 2024, where he became the youngest player to represent South Africa at the international level at just 18 years and 137 days old. Maphaka has since participated in a total of five T20Is and has taken three wickets. His recent performance in IPL 2025 included a crucial early wicket against the Punjab Kings, showcasing his potential as a rising star in South African cricket.

Lhuan-dré Pretorius also makes his first appearance in the T20I squad following a stellar performance in first-class cricket, where he has scored three centuries and maintained an impressive average of over 60. His prowess was evident at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2024, where he emerged as South Africa's top run-scorer. Pretorius was recently called up to the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured Nitish Rana.

Nandre Burger returns to the international arena after an 11-month hiatus due to a lower back injury that sidelined him from competitive cricket. Burger, who has appeared in two T20Is previously, was also called up as a replacement during IPL 2025 after Sandeep Sharma's injury.

The South African squad is led by captain Rassie van der Dussen and includes a mix of experienced players and young talent. The full squad is as follows: Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, and Andile Simelane.

The tournament structure will see each team facing each other twice before culminating in a final on July 26. South Africa's matches will commence against Zimbabwe on July 14 and 20, followed by fixtures against New Zealand on July 16 and 22. The team will gather in Pretoria for a preparatory camp starting July 9 before departing for Harare on July 11.

This tri-nation series serves as an important platform for emerging players like Maphaka and Pretorius, providing them with experience on the international stage while also allowing Burger to re-establish himself in the national setup. The inclusion of these players not only reflects South Africa's commitment to nurturing young talent but also aims to bolster the team's performance in the lead-up to future international competitions.