8 South African players who featured in T20 World Cup 2024 but won’t play in 2026 edition

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On January 2, 2026, Cricket South Africa (CSA) officially announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Under the continued leadership of Aiden Markram, the Proteas have opted for a ‘shock-and-awe’ youth transition, retaining only seven players from the 2024 final-run team.

The squad is headlined by the sensational return of Quinton de Kock, who reversed his international retirement to provide veteran stability at the top. He is joined by ‘Baby AB’ Dewald Brevis and the teenage pace prodigy Kwena Maphaka, signaling a clear shift toward South Africa’s next generation of superstars.

Selection convener Patrick Moroney described the roster as a calculated risk, prioritizing raw power and subcontinental adaptability. The inclusion of Jason Smith and all-rounder George Linde highlights a tactical move to bolster the lower-middle order, while the pace attack remains fearsome with the return of Kagiso Rabada from injury. However, the path to the 2026 trophy comes at the cost of several household names whose absence marks a definitive changing of the guard in South African cricket.

Also READ: South Africa announces a bold squad for T20 World Cup 2026, drops Tristan Stubbs and recalls Kagiso Rabada

The 2026 squad sees the absence of several key figures from the side that narrowly lost the 2024 final. Here is a breakdown of the players who helped South Africa reach their first-ever final but are missing from this title charge:

1. Heinrich Klaasen (Retired): In a massive blow to the Proteas’ middle order, the world’s most feared T20 finisher announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2025. Klaasen, who nearly won the 2024 final with a blistering fifty, decided to focus exclusively on global franchise leagues, leaving a massive power vacuum at No. 5.

2. Reeza Hendricks (Omitted): Despite being a mainstay at the top of the order for years, the veteran opener was overlooked in favor of more aggressive options like Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis. At 36, the selectors felt Hendricks’ strike-rate-oriented approach no longer fit the intent-first philosophy required for Indian pitches.

3. Tristan Stubbs (Omitted/Tactical Shift): In what is arguably the biggest shock of the announcement, Tristan Stubbs was left out of the 15-member squad. Following a lean patch in the green and gold throughout 2025, the selectors opted for Jason Smith’s recent explosive domestic form, citing a need for clutch finishing under pressure.

4. Ryan Rickelton (Omitted): The explosive wicketkeeper-batter missed out as the selectors backed the returning Quinton de Kock as the sole specialist keeper. Despite his heavy scoring in the SA20, the management felt Rickelton’s inclusion would create an imbalance in a squad already packed with top-order hitters.

5. Tabraiz Shamsi (Omitted/Legal Dispute): The former World No. 1 T20 bowler has been moved past following a high-profile legal battle with CSA over NOCs for foreign leagues. With Shamsi no longer holding a domestic contract and Varun Chakravarthy-style mystery being the trend, South Africa has fully committed to Keshav Maharaj and George Linde.

6. Gerald Coetzee (Omitted): The high-pace Karoo Express’ was a surprise omission. The selectors preferred the left-arm variety of Kwena Maphaka and the death-bowling specialist skills of Corbin Bosch. Coetzee’s recent struggles with consistency in the subcontinental conditions played a significant role in his exclusion.

7. Ottneil Baartman (Omitted): A breakout star of the 2024 campaign, Baartman lost his spot to a rejuvenated Anrich Nortje and the multi-dimensional Lungi Ngidi. The selectors noted that while Baartman remains a quality operator, the 2026 conditions demanded bowlers with either express pace or significant lower-order batting ability.

8. Bjorn Fortuin (Omitted): Fortuin, who provided valuable spin cover in 2024, was squeezed out by the return of George Linde. The management favored Linde’s superior batting pedigree and his ability to act as a genuine all-rounder in the spin-friendly conditions of India and Sri Lanka.

Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin breaks down why T20 World Cup 2026 may fail to excite fans