South Africa's squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been bolstered with the return of fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi.
Both players were sidelined for the entire home international season due to injuries, but now, with full recoveries in place, they are ready to play a crucial role for the Proteas in the upcoming tournament starting on February 19.
The return of Nortje and Ngidi is a significant boost for South Africa, with Nortje recovering from a left toe injury and Ngidi returning from a groin issue.
Their inclusion strengthens the bowling attack, which will be key to South Africa’s aspirations in the tournament. The team will compete in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Australia, and England.
This challenging group stage will set the stage for South Africa's journey towards claiming their first Champions Trophy title since the tournament's inception in 1998.
The 15-man squad will be captained by Temba Bavuma, and it features ten players who were part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup in India.
This continuity ensures a level of experience that can help South Africa perform under pressure. Alongside the experienced core, fresh faces have been included, such as Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder, who will all feature in their first senior ICC tournament.
Head coach Rob Walter is confident that this blend of experience and new talent gives South Africa a strong chance of competing at the highest level. “This squad boasts a wealth of experience, with many players having consistently performed in high-pressure situations,” Walter said.
“We’ve 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, and we’re eager to take the next step in pursuit of the coveted silverware.”
In addition to the players, South Africa will also have a strengthened support staff, with high-performance batting lead Imraan Khan joining the team as batting coach for the Champions Trophy.
Walter expressed enthusiasm about Khan’s role, noting that his addition will help the team strengthen its batting and continue improving as a unit.
South Africa’s opening match in the Champions Trophy will be against Afghanistan on February 21 in Karachi, followed by a match against Australia in Rawalpindi on February 15.
The final group-stage match will see them face England on March 1, also in Karachi. The top two teams from Group A and Group B will progress to the semi-finals.
This tournament, hosted in Pakistan and the UAE, is the first of its kind since 2017, and Pakistan is the defending champion, having beaten India in the final at The Oval.
Looking ahead, Cricket South Africa (CSA) also revealed that the squad for the preceding tri-series against hosts Pakistan and New Zealand, scheduled for February 8-14, will be announced in the near future.
This tri-series will serve as an important warm-up for the Champions Trophy, offering South Africa the opportunity to fine-tune their preparations before the main tournament.
The full squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy includes Temba Bavuma (captain), 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, and Rassie van der Dussen.
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