Cricket South Africa on Tuesday announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International series against Bangladesh starting from March 18.
Pace bowler Anrich Nortje, who is recovering from a hip injury, and Sisanda Magala, who failed a fitness test, were unavailable for selection.
Before the selection, the South African players faced a litmus test of loyalty as the ODI series against Bangladesh clashed with the timing with the Indian Premier League (IPL) where a number of Protea players were picked by the franchises during the auction in February.
South Africa's Test captain Dean Elger told the media, "You don't want players to miss out on a big occasion like the IPL. But I'd still like to think playing for your country is bigger than that."
Looks like the cricketers heard him and eight IPL-bound cricketers are staying in South Africa for the Bangladesh series, scheduled to take place just before the start of the IPL.
The three ODI matches will take place on March 18, 23, and 25 in Johannesburg.
The first match of the IPL is on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium Mumbai between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The players are set to serve a three-day quarantine bubble before entering the IPL biosecurity protocol which means the cricketers who will join their teams after the Bangladesh series are likely to miss the first few games for their respective teams.
South Africa's squad includes eight players who are expected to take part in the IPL — Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Dwaine Pretorius, and Marco Jansen.
"The players in the one-day squad who are not playing in the Tests will likely leave for IPL after the ODI series," Victor Mpitsang, CSA's selection convener, told the media.
"We will have more clarity on the six players who are part of the Test group in the next couple of days", he added.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Keshav Maharaj (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne
