Du Plessis, Chris Morris get South Africa T20 call-up

Cape Town: Faf du Plessis, the middle order batsman, has been has been named in South Africa`s 15-man squad for the unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, in Zimbabwe in June. Du Plessis has played 21 ODIs for South Africa, but has never been part of the Twenty20 squad. Chris Morris, the Highveld Lions allrounder, has received a maiden call-up.

The squad will be led by Johan Botha. AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been rested.

"Du Plessis has been a stand-out performer for Chennai Super Kings at the IPL and deserves his Twenty20 call-up," Cricket South Africa`s selection convenor, Andrew Hudson, said. "He has given us exciting, extra options by demonstrating his ability both at the top of the order and in the middle order.

"Morris` selection continues our policy of creating international opportunities for those who perform outstandingly well at franchise level and this certainly applies in his case."

Morris was the leading wicket-taker in South Africa`s domestic Twenty20 competition, the MiWay T20 Challenge, for 2011-12: his medium pace fetched him 21 wickets in 12 games. That performance put him in contention for selection, Hudson said. "He was also very effective as a lower order hitter with a batting strike rate of 200," he said. "He played a very significant role in getting the Lions to the final."

Squad: Johan Botha (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dane Vilas (wk).

BDST: 2055 HRS, May 30, 2012
Edited by
Chanchal Ghosh, Newsroom Editor