Injured Temba Bavuma to miss Zimbabwe Tests, Keshav Maharaj to lead South Africa

Published - 20 Jun 2025, 18:57 IST | Updated - 20 Jun 2025, 20:06 IST

World Test Champions South Africa are set to play two Tests against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting on Saturday, June 28. However, the Proteas will miss the services of their inspirational captain, Temba Bavuma, who sustained a hamstring injury while batting in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia last week at Lord's.

Experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who also played the WTC final, will lead the Rainbow Nation in the two-match series. Bavuma, on the other hand, will undergo further tests to determine the extent of the injury. This isn't the first time the South African Test and ODI captain has suffered a hamstring injury. In fact, this is the third hamstring injury Bavuma has suffered in less than two years. He was injured during the 2023 ODI World Cup and played the semi-final, and then again during the Boxing Day Test against India that year.

South Africa have named 15 players who will travel to the neighbouring country to play the red-ball games. Lungi Ngidi has been picked for only the second Test, which begins on July 6. As many as five uncapped players have been named in the side. All-format players like Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, who played instrumental roles in South Africa's WTC final triumph, have been rested.

ZIM announce squad for SA Tests; Curran, Raza miss out

Zimbabwe recently played a four-day Test against England in Nottingham last month. They lost by an innings and 45 runs to the Three Lions. However, Brian Bennett impressed the cricket fraternity with his exhilarating century, as he scored a 143-ball 139, smashing 26 boundaries. Veterans Sean Ervine and Sikandar Raza also scored fluent half-centuries in the Test match, while Blessing Muzarabani accounted for the wickets of Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Stokes.

South Africa squad: David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi (second Test only), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf.