Cricket South Africa (CSA) on January 13 announced their squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and UAE. Pacers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi have returned to the ODI squad after missing the entire home season across formats. Teenager left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka did not find a place in the Temba Bavuma-led side after making his ODI debut against Pakistan at home recently.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder, top-order Tony de Zorzi and wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickleton will play their first senior ICC event. Rickleton has played just six ODIs and scored 188 runs at an average of 31.33 including a half-century. Tony has played 12 ODIs and scored 449 runs at an average of 40.81 including a century and fifty each. Mulder has played 20 ODIs and taken 14 wickets. He has scored 190 runs at an average of 15.83 including a fifty.
Nortje played his last ODI against Australia in September 2023. On the other hand, Ngidi has not played an ODI since October 2024 when South Africa took on Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
South Africa Champions Trophy 2025 squad:
Temba Bavuma (c), 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, Rassie van der Dussen
South Africa's Champions Trophy 2025 schedule
South Africa have been placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Australia and England. They will go up against Afghanistan in their first group stage clash on February 21 at National Stadium, Karachi. They will lock horns with Australia and England on February 25 and March 1 respectively.
South Africa's preparatory series before Champions Trophy 2025
The same squad will feature in the tri-series on Pakistan soil ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. South Africa will face New Zealand and Pakistan on February 10 and February 12 respectively in the tri-series. The final of the tri-series will be played on February 14.
How South Africa have fared in Champions Trophy over the years
South Africa won the knockout version of Champions Trophy in 1998. Hansie Cronje-led South Africa beat West Indies by four wickets to win the trophy. In the 2000 edition, they reached the semifinals but lost to Sourav Ganguly-led India by 95 runs. In the following edition in 2022, they reached the semifinal again to be knocked out by India. India beat South Africa by 10 runs despite Herschelle Gibbs century and Jacques Kallis' 97.
In 2004, they failed to make it past the group stage game. In 2006, they reached the semifinal again. This time they lost by six wickets to West Indies as Chris Gayle scored an unbeaten 133. In 2009, South Africa hosted the Champions Trophy but lost two out of three group stage games and couldn't make it last four. On England soil in 2013, South Africa were beaten by hosts England by seven wickets in the semifinal. In the previous edition, they were beaten by finalists India and Pakistan in the group stage and were knocked out of semifinal race.