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November 2, 2021 South Africa’s Temba Bavuma in action.
The South African cricket team will start the defence of its ICC World Test Championship title without Captain Temba Bavuma.
Bavuma has been ruled out of the upcoming all-format tour to Pakistan as he continues his recovery from a calf strain sustained during the recent tour of England.
Aiden Markram will lead the side in his absence. Titans spinner Simon Harmer has earned a recall to the test side for the first time since March 2023, while Keshav Maharaj has been named for the second Test only as he completes the final stages of rehabilitation from a left groin strain.
The all-format players selected for the Test series with the exception of all-rounder Corbin Bosch and batter Dewald Brevis, will be rested for the white-ball leg of the tour.
David Miller will lead the T20 squad, while Matthew leads the ODI team.
The first Test starts on 12 October in Lahore.
The South African Men’s selection panel has named the squads for the upcoming all-format tour of Pakistan as well as the one-off T20 International (T20I) against Namibia.
The Proteas will begin their defence of the ICC World Test Championship Mace with a two-match Test series… pic.twitter.com/0jOOgSpsCv
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 22, 2025
