South Africa has announced its squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Aiden Markram will captain the team, which includes young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka and top-order batsman Jason Smith. However, explosive batsmen Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs have not made the cut.
Smiths selection is a result of his impressive recent form. He made his T20 debut in 2024 and boasts a strike rate of 128.30. He is currently playing for MI Cape Town in the SA20 league. Besides Smith and Maphaka, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, and George Linde have also been included in the T20 World Cup squad for the first time.
Playing against India will be advantageous: ConradHead coach Shukri Conrad said, We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently played against hosts India, and the experience we gained playing in those conditions will certainly be beneficial for us in this tournament. He added that several players selected for the World Cup squad were on that tour and have experienced the pitches we are likely to encounter.
