Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will lead South Africa in their upcoming three-match T20I series with England.

Regular skipper Faf du Plessis, who de Kock replaced as the Proteas’ 50-over captain ahead of the ongoing ODI series with England, has been rested alongside seamer Kagiso Rabada.

Dale Steyn makes his return to the international scene after recovering from a shoulder injury; his last match for South Africa was a T20I against Sri Lanka last March. The uncapped pair of batsman Pite van Biljon and seamer Sisanda Magala have received their maiden T20I call-ups. However, Magala’s selection will be dependent on whether he passes a fitness test ahead of the first match of the series. 

“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,” said Graeme Smith, Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket.

The first match of the series will take place on Wednesday in East London.

South Africa squad for T20Is against England: Quinton de Kock (c, wk), 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 Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen