Hendricks, Viljoen in preliminary WT20 squad

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Cricket365
December 27, 2013

The uncapped Beuran Hendricks, Hardus Viljoen and Rilee Rossouw have been named in South Africa's preliminary squad for next year's World Twenty20.

Hendricks, Viljoen and Rossouw have enjoyed a fine stretch of form at domestic level for the Cobras, Lions and Knights this season, but are not likely to feature in the final 15-man party, which will be finalised next year.

The veteran Jacques Kallis, who recently retired from Test matches but remains available for limited-overs competition, has not been included. Batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld, who has not played international cricket since 2009, is vying for a recall.

The right-handed Henry Davids, meanwhile, has received the backing of captain Faf du Plessis – despite a poor run of form that has brought a mere 18 runs in six T20I innings this year.

"Hopefully he will learn from this more than anything else and he will understand how to grow his game. He is the next best batsman in the set-up but he needs to make sure he can play anywhere in the team. If we have an injury in the World T20, he needs to make sure he can step into any position," said du Plessis.

The Proteas have been grouped with Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England and a qualifier. Their campaign will get underway against the Sri Lankans at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on 22 March.

<b>Preliminary squad:</b> Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen, David Wiese.