Proteas respond to Steyn tweets after non-selection

Cricket South Africa says Dale Steyn was not medically cleared for their upcoming T20 series in India, contradicting the fast bowler’s suggestion that he was available for the tour.

Steyn hasn’t bowled in a match at any level since April when he was sidelined with a shoulder problem that ultimately ruled him out of the World Cup.

Having announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this month, Steyn said he wanted to continue his international career in white-ball cricket and his postings on social media this week indicate he had hoped to be picked for the three-match T20 series against India next month.

But CSA’s acting director of cricket Corrie van Zyl said the 36-year-old was overlooked because he’s not fully fit.

"He is not yet medically ready and our information makes that very clear," van Zyl told Sport24.

There has been plenty of upheaval in the Proteas camp since their early exit at the World Cup, with coach Ottis Gibson and four assistant coaches, team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee and head selector Linda Zondi all no longer with the side. Veterans Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy also announced their retirements.

In a pair of tweets sent to respected South African broadcaster Neil Manthorp after his was overlooked in the T20 squad this week, Steyn cheekily suggested his phone number may have been lost amid the shake-up.

After the India series, the Proteas are not due to play any white-ball cricket until February, when they’ll host England and Australia in both ODI and T20 cricket before returning to India for a three-game ODI series.

With the cancellation this week of the inaugural Euro T20 Slam, Steyn isn’t due to play any cricket until South Africa’s domestic T20 league begins in November.

He is currently on holiday in South America.

The veteran is one of a host of big names who will miss the India T20 series, a three-match campaign that starts on September 15, as selectors look ahead to next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

Quinton de Kock will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Faf du Plessis – who van Zyl said “remains an important part of our plans for white-ball cricket” – while Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Lungi Ngidi were all left out so they can focus on the subsequent Test series. CSA added allrounder Chris Morris “did not make himself available for selection”.

SA T20 squad: Quinton de Kock (capt), Rassie van der Dussen (vice-capt), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts.