Sisanda Magala to miss first T20I after not meeting fitness requirements

Uncapped Proteas bowler Sisanda Magala will have to wait until a few more days before his international debut.

The Warriors’ speedster was included in the T20I squad ahead of the three-match series against England, which begins at Buffalo Park in East London on Wednesday afternoon.

Fitness issues continue for Sisanda Magala

He, however, will not be considered for selection for the first match after not meeting the team’s fitness requirements.

“Sisanda has not met the fitness requirements of the team and will therefore be unavailable for selection for the first T20 International between the Proteas and England in East London,’ read a statement from Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Cricket South Africa

This comes just weeks after the 29-year-old was excluded from the ODI squad after he was deemed not up to scratch in terms of the team’s fitness standards.

This is despite being enrolled in a high-performance program along with teammates Lungi Ngidi, Jon-Jon Smuts and Tabraiz Shamsi.

According to CSA, Magala will undergo another fitness test before the second match, which takes place in Durban on Friday.

He is one of two uncapped players in the Proteas T20I squad, along with Knights batsman Pite van Biljon.

The duo starred for their respective franchises in the recent Mzansi Super League T20, with Magala taking 11 wickets for Cape Town Blitz, while van Biljon averaged 48 for his 192 runs, which helped Tshwane Spartans to the title.

Also back in the fold is veteran fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was among the top wicket-takers in the tournament, finishing with 15 to end up third in the list behind Imran Tahir and Shamsi.

The 36-year-old is set to play his first international match in a year, and is keen on assuming a mentorship role in the team.

“The young guys‚ just the unknown‚ they need to hit hard‚ they need to capitalize and use that to their advantage,” Steyn said.

“England won’t know a lot of the guys‚ know what they are capable of and will be wary to that extent‚ so that’s what it is going to take and also a bit of smart cricket and luck at the end of the day too.”

Dale Steyn

Proteas squad vs England 

Quinton de Kock (captain, wicketkeeper), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen.