Cricket South Africa recently announced their team of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, expected to happen Pakistan and UAE.
A good balance between experience and young talent can be seen in the South African team. The team should be led by experienced campaigners Temba Bavuma who has already led the Proteas to the final ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against Australia. However, South Africa will be looking to win their first ICC tournament in the WTC finals and break their record of playing the biggest ICC tournament in their entire cricket history.
South Africa's run in ODI World Cup 2023
South Africa got off to a good start ODI World Cup was held in India in 2023. The Proteas were second in the group stage only behind India who won 7 and lost 2. However, they faced Australia in the semi-finals of the tournament where they lost to the then 5-gamer by 3 wickets. Hence their long cherished dream of winning the biggest ICC tournament was not fulfilled. The Aussies went on to defeat the winner in the second semi-final, India and won the top title for 6 times.
Remembering this unsuccessful campaign, South Africa have made several changes to their limited edition to raise a strong Champions Trophy this year. Here are 5 South African players who played in the ODI World Cup 2023 but failed to make the Champions Trophy 2025 squad list.
Also Read: Cricket South Africa has announced the Champions Trophy 2025 squad; Enrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi Return
5 players who will not play for South Africa in Champions Trophy 2025
1) Quinton de Kock:
The ace wicket-keeper batsman with 6,770 runs in the ODI format for South Africa was the third highest scorer in the ODI World Cup 2023 with 594 runs to his name. The 32-year-old retired from Test cricket in 2021 to focus on a more limited form. However, doubts are looming over whether he wants to play for South Africa again. De Kock has not played international cricket since South Africa's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. He was also not part of the South African team in their recent white-ball series against Pakistan and India.
2) Gerald Coetzee
Young South African star Gerald Coetzee has been left out of South Africa's 2025 Champions Trophy squad due to a chest injury that has been bothering him since the first Test match. Sri Lanka in Durban. The 24-year-old has been ruled out of the Test, ODI and T20I series against Pakistan and the date of his return to South Africa is unknown. Coetzee was the star player for South Africa with the ball in the 2023 ODI World Cup where he took 20 wickets in 8 innings.
3) Andile Phehlukwayo
Andile Phehlukwayo is one of the South African players who have shown good credentials in the game of cricket but failed to give up a wicket against the Proteas. He was part of South Africa's ODI World Cup squad as a promising youngster and a popular figure in South African cricket. However, the 28-year-old could not make it big in the ODI format. He was recently given a chance against Pakistan in the ODI series but the all-rounder failed miserably. Phehlukwayo has scored only 883 runs and has taken 97 wickets in 85 ODI matches in South Africa.
4) Reeza Hendricks
Reeza Hendricks has been an integral part of the South African team in the T20I format. However, his ODI contracts are still uncertain. The 35-year-old last played 50-over cricket against Ireland in October 2024 and has been focusing on playing T20 cricket for the Proteas. Hence, it seems unlikely that Hendricks will make another appearance for South Africa in the ODI format.
5) Lizaad Williams
Lizaad Williams was in the squad for South Africa's ODI against Ireland in October 2024, however the all-rounder has missed several of the opening matches for his SA20 team, the Joburg Super Kings. Due to injury, and an undisclosed amount of time, the 31-year-old has been left out of South Africa's squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy.