Stand-in captain announced after Bavuma ruled out of ODI series opener

South African ODI captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out from the ODI series opener against Afghanistan due to illness. The stand-in captain's name has been announced for the ODI series opener. 

Afghanistan and South Africa are ready for the three-match ODI series in Sharjah. The ODI series opener will be played on Wednesday (September 18). 

ODI captain Temba Bavuma will miss the ODI series opener due to illness. The Cricket South Africa (CSA) hasn’t revealed any details, including his availability for the next fixtures.

SEE ALSO: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: ICC announces record prize money

Aiden Markram will lead South Africa in the ODI series opener against Afghanistan

South African T20I captain Aiden Markram will lead South Africa for the ODI series opener against Afghanistan. The CSA has announced Markram as a stand-in captain for this ODI series.

The 29-year-old Markram has already led South Africa in 12 ODIs and 20 T20Is. He first led the South African ODI team in the last five games of the six-match home ODI series against India in 2018. Markram was the second youngest ODI captain for South Africa. 

In 2023, Markram led six more ODIs, including twice in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2023 in India. Last December, he led the Proteas ODI team for the last time during the three-match home ODI series against India. 

Under Markram’s leadership, the South African ODI team has won six matches and lost six games.  

Last June, the Markram-led South African team finished as the runners-up in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States. 

Afghanistan and South Africa are ready to meet outside the ICC tournaments

In the upcoming three-match ODI series in Sharjah, Afghanistan and South Africa will take on each other for the first time in international cricket outside the ICC tournaments. In their two previous ODI meetings, South Africa won by nine wickets and five wickets, respectively. 

After completion of the ODI series against Afghanistan, South Africa will play a two-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi.