South Africa announces squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bavuma to captain the Proteas; Nortje, Ngidi return

South Africa announces squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bavuma to captain the Proteas; Nortje, Ngidi return

South Africa announced its squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Monday, with Temba Bavuma set to captain the side.

The 15-man squad, picked by white-ball head coach Rob Walter, has 10 players who competed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, where South Africa reached the semifinals.

South Africa, runner-up in last year’s T20 World Cup and finalist in the upcoming World Test Championship is bolstered by the return of pace spearheads Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi.

The tournament marks Nortje’s return to ODI cricket, his first appearance in the 50-over format since September 2023, as he was sidelined with a stress fracture in his back, forcing him to miss the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023.

Lungi Ngidi also makes his comeback, having been out of international cricket since October 2024 due to a groin injury.

The squad sees fresh additions in Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder, all set to make their debut at a 50-over ICC event.

Speaking on the squad announcement, head coach Rob Walter said: “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.

“We’ve managed to maintain the core group of our 2023 World Cup squad whilst 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.

The Proteas have won the Champions Trophy just once – the inaugural edition in 1998, beating the West Indies by four wickets in the final.