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Dale Steyn back into the Proteas T20 team

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Quinton de Kock will captain the Proteas T20 side that will play England in a three-match T20 series between 12-16 February 2020.

Dale Steyn returns to international cricket after nearly a year’s absence having fully recovered from a recurring shoulder injury.

Knights batsman, Pite van Biljon and Warriors seamer, Sisanda Magala, earn their maiden call ups.  

Magala’s selection is conditional upon the passing of a fitness test that he will have to take ahead of the first match in East London next week.

Bloemfontein born, Van Biljon impressed selectors with stand-out performances over the last 24 months in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) T20 Domestic League, the Africa T20 Cup and Mzansi Super League.

He averaged 48.00 in his seven innings of the 2019 instalment of the latter League, finishing fifth in the tournament’s Highest Averages list and a strike rate of 139.13.

Steyn’s last appearance for South Africa was in March 2019 against Sri Lanka in Centurion.

 Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada have been granted extended rest and will take no further part in the remainder of England’s tour.

CSA Acting Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith said: ?We are pleased with the group that we have selected for this upcoming T20 series against England. We have once again taken the opportunity to reward some of the hard workers of our domestic franchise system while some of our key senior players continue with their much-needed rest period and we have again, put our faith in Quinton (de Kock) to lead this group of exciting cricketers, picking up where he left off in India where he showed exemplary leadership.

?England have of course announced a competitive team and we are comfortable that we have the squad that can take them on and return positive results.

?With a T20 World Cup not too far away, we have begun the process of identifying several players whom we will be looking at over a period of time and hope that by the time September comes along, we will have the best possible squad of 15 representing South Africa.?

Proteas T20 squad: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon , Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn and Heinrich Klaasen.