Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Morne Morkel's exclusion from the Proteas' World Twenty20 squad for next month's showpiece in India was a direct result of the selectors' decision to back Dale Steyn.
That was the word from Cricket South Africa's (CSA) convenor of selectors Linda Zondi on Thursday after a 15-man squad was announced on Wednesday evening.
Steyn, who has been injured since the Boxing Day Test against England in Durban, was included in the squad.
He is expected to have recovered from his shoulder injury in time to feature in a three-match T20 series against Australia next month.
"You’ll always be in a position where there will be guys missing out. Looking at the balance of the team we’ve always felt that Dale Steyn is a guy who has done well for us in previous T20 tournaments and that is why we have selected him," Zondi told Sport24.
"We’re going to back Dale and see what he can offer. We know that Dale hasn’t played but he is a guy who has been there and done that and produced for South Africa.
"I think it boils down to choosing between the two of them. It was very close. For us, even if we had left out Steyn it was going to be an issue."
Zondi added that the Australian series would be crucial for Steyn in his endeavour to prove that he has regained full match fitness before the tournament in India.
"It is important for us to make sure that Dale plays in the Australia series that is coming up. It is not a trial for Dale to play in that series but we need to make sure that he is match fit," said Zondi.
"We will make whatever final decision based on what happens in the Australian tour. We want a fit Dale Steyn."
Proteas T20 squad:
Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), AB de Villiers (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Chris Morris (Titans), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), David Wiese (Titans)
