South Africa has unveiled a formidable 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with pace bowlers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi making their much-anticipated return to international cricket. The squad, led by skipper Temba Bavuma, is set to kick off their campaign on February 19, with the team eyeing their first major ICC trophy.

🚨SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

White-ball head coach Rob Walter has today announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in Pakistan from 19 February – 09 March.

One-Day International captain Temba Bavuma will lead the full-strength squad, which… pic.twitter.com/Bzt0rqjveG
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 13, 2025

The return of Nortje and Ngidi is a significant boost for the Proteas, who finished as runners-up in last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup and are finalists in the upcoming World Test Championship. Both players have been out of action due to injuries but are now back to strengthen South Africa’s pace attack for the tournament in Pakistan and the UAE.

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Anrich Nortje will make his comeback to ODI cricket after a lengthy absence. He last played a 50-over match in September 2023 before being sidelined by a stress fracture in his back. The injury forced him to miss the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and South Africa’s home season.

Lungi Ngidi, another key figure in South Africa’s bowling lineup, returns to the squad after recovering from a groin injury that kept him out since October 2024. Both pacers are expected to play crucial roles in South Africa’s Champions Trophy campaign, bolstering their fast-bowling unit alongside Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

South Africa has largely stuck with the core group that guided them to the semi-finals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, retaining 10 players from that squad. However, the Champions Trophy squad also features some fresh additions who will be making their debut in a 50-over ICC event.

Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder are the notable newcomers in the squad. These players have shown promise in domestic cricket and will be looking to make an impact on the global stage.

Nortje’s inclusion, after missing the 2023 World Cup, is another significant addition, further strengthening the squad’s depth and experience.

South Africa’s head coach Rob Walter expressed confidence in the squad, highlighting the balance of experience and fresh talent. He emphasized the team’s consistency in ICC events and their readiness to take the next step in pursuit of a major title.

“This squad boasts a wealth of experience, with many players having consistently performed in high-pressure situations. That kind of experience is invaluable in a tournament like this,” Walter said, as quoted by ICC.

“We have managed to maintain the core group of our 2023 World Cup squad while adding fresh talent. Our recent performances at ICC events show that we’re capable of reaching the latter stages of global tournaments. We’re eager to take the next step and go even further in pursuit of the coveted silverware,” he added.

South Africa’s history in ICC tournaments has been filled with near-misses, but the team remains optimistic about ending their title drought. The Champions Trophy presents a golden opportunity for the Proteas to claim their first major ICC trophy since their triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1998.

Their campaign will begin against New Zealand in Lahore on February 19, followed by crucial group-stage matches against Australia and England.

South Africa’s Group Stage Fixtures:

February 21 – South Africa vs Afghanistan, Karachi
February 25 – South Africa vs Australia, Rawalpindi
March 1 – South Africa vs England, Karachi.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

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