South Africa called up uncapped left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for next month’s triangular limited-overs series in the Caribbean and rested fast bowler Dale Steyn amid concerns over his workload.
Shamsi was the only new player in the one-day international squad announced on Friday, although pace-bowling allrounder Wayne Parnell was recalled for the first time in more than a year.
Head selector Linda Zondi said Steyn was rested for the triangular series against West Indies and Australia to keep him fresh for the test season. South Africa, which lost its No. 1 ranking in tests with a home loss to England in January, has series against New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka this year.
Batsman Faf du Plessis was in the ODI squad for the Caribbean despite sustaining a broken finger in the IPL. Du Plessis had surgery on the broken left ring finger this week and should be ready for South Africa’s second game of the triangular series against Australia on June 7, team manager Mohammed Moosajee said.
Steyn won’t play in the triangular after the 32-year-old quick bowler struggled with a series of injuries at the end of last season. The latest, a right shoulder problem, kept him out of most of the series loss to England.
Steyn’s workload has been exacerbated by his franchise commitments. He is currently playing in the IPL and is also due to play in the Caribbean Twenty20 league starting in late June.