Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma, Tabraiz Shamsi back in ODI Squad for Pakistan Series

South Africa's limited-overs coach, Rob Walter, announced a strong 15-player squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International series at home against Pakistan.

Tabraiz Shamsi is ahead of Nqaba Peter in ODIs

The big guns including Kagiso Rabada whose last ODI game was during the 2023 semi-final World Cup game against Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Captain Temba Bavuma also makes his return to the squad having suffered an injury during the ODI series against Ireland in the UAE in October.

The 18-year-old fast bowling sensation, Kwena Maphaka, also earns his maiden ODI call-up after being impressive in his four T20I matches thus far and will bowl in tandem with Rabada and Jansen in the series.

However, wrist spinner and 23-year-old capped Nqaba Peter has missed out on selection as the established Tabraiz Shamsi got the nod ahead of the youngster for the upcoming series.

Peter played two ODIs in the UAE in October and took three wickets in total at an average of 30, an understandable return for a youngster on debut.

As South Africa prepares for next year's ICC Championship Trophy and given that the side has only these three ODI matches left before they travel to Pakistan for the showpiece event in February 2025, Walter has opted to go for Shamsi for this series.

Walter has emphasised that Shamsi is the lead wrist spinner in ODI cricket and also acknowledged that the young Peter is hot on Shamsi's heels for a spit in the ODI team.

"To be fair, Tabraiz is ahead of him in 50-over cricket. Shamo has earned his position there as the wrist spinner in our side. He's won World Cup games for us as a wrist spinner so for now he is the lead wrist spinner in 50-over cricket," Walter told SportsBoom.com. 

"It's a great position to be in when you have a guy like Nqaba pushing him and hot on his heels. When we went to the subcontinent, when Tabraiz wasn't there, we used that as an opportunity for Nqaba to come in and develop his 50-over craft."

"He's still a young pup when it comes to bowling in international cricket so we also have to allow him to grow at a decent rate knowing the kind of character that he is."

While Walter leaned on the experienced Shamsi on the wrist spinner point of view, he has done the same on his selection of all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo for the series.

Walter also had all-rounder Jason Smith at his disposal, the very same Smith who blasted 91 in his second career ODI in the UAE.

However, since Smith hasn't been bowling in domestic cricket due to an injury, Walter has leaned on the experience of Phehlukwayo for the series.

Andile Phehlukwayo earns backing ahead of Jason Smith

"Jason, to be fair to him, he picked up an injury and hasn't been bowling so we weren't really comparing apples with apples because he wasn't bowling. But I see Jason as the guy who's going to offer us an all-round option," said Walter.

"His five overs to make up the fifth bowler are critically important for his selection and for his involvement in the team. So, for now, he's not able to do that so he's not part of the conversation. Andile did reasonably well in the UAE, he brings experience, and he's played well in 4-Day cricket for the Titans."

"So, it's good to see his batting progressing back to where I know what he's capable of. So, from that point of view, wanting to be consistent from the opportunities point of view and still show faith in Andile."

"I want him to still play his best cricket for South Africa but if he doesn't, we'll cross that bridge but for now it's to include him in the squad. Obviously, there are a couple of all-rounders that are not available and that also affects this selection."

Fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series due to a left toe injury. This happened after the quick was bracing for his return to the South Africa colours having been selected for the ongoing T20I series before picking up the injury.

Proteas ODI squad against Pakistan

Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman , Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi and Rassie van der Dussen.