Rassie van der Dussen in Proteas ODI squad for Pakistan series

Highveld Lions batsman Rassie van der Dussen has been named as the only uncapped player in the Proteas ODI squad that will face Pakistan over five matches beginning later this month.

A 14-man squad was named on Thursday, with the injured JP Duminy and Lungi Ngidi notable absentees, while opener Aiden Markram and all-rounder, Chris Morris were also left out.

Duminy missed out of the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20, taking up commentary duties instead, while van der Dussen impressed in the tournament, earning himself an opportunity to add to his three international caps, which all came in the shortest format of the game against Zimbabwe late last year.

Another player who has been brought into the squad is Cape Cobras seamer, Dane Paterson, who effectively comes in for Ngidi after the young speedster sustained a knee injury while fielding in the one-off T20 International against Australia at the Gold Coast in November.

The 22-year-old was ruled out for up to three months, and faces a race against time to reclaim his place in the side ahead of the Cricket World Cup in England, which begins in May.

Paterson last featured in ODI cricket in the three-match series against a visiting Bangladesh side in 2017, taking career-best figures of 3/44 in the final match in East London.

We need to look at all the options available to us as we get closer to selecting our final squad for this year's World Cup, commented CSA's chief selector Linda Zondi.

And Rassie and Dane are two players who have been knocking strongly on the door in all formats.

Those players who went to Australia and have not been selected for the first two matches Farhaan Behardien, Aiden Markram and Chris Morris are by no means out of the picture and they may well get further opportunities in the second half of the series.

We are very happy with the way in which our Vision 2019 is taking shape.

The series against Pakistan could not have come at a better time as they will provide a very stern test for the Proteas under conditions very similar to what we will experience at the World Cup, concluded Zondi.

Hashim Amla also returns to the squad, having missed out on the tour to Australia through injury.

Proteas ODI squad Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.

Tags: One Day InternationalsPakistanProteasSouth Africa

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