Steyn left out of South Africa's new contract list

Veteran South African pacer Dale Steyn's hopes of making a comeback to the national team in the ICC T20 World Cup later this year were dealt a blow today, as he was left out of Cricket South Africa's national contracts for the 2020-21 season.

The 36-year-old Steyn had made a comeback this February in the shorter format after being laid low by injury in the last three years, hoping to be a part of the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.

Steyn last played a Test and an ODI for the Proteas in early last year. He was currently playing for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, but had to return home as the tournament was called of amid coronavirus pandemic.

He would have turned up for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2020, but the tournament, too, got postponed to April 15, and looks likely to be delayed even further because of the pandemic.

Interestingly, left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks was included in the 16-member list. The South African board showed faith in the young players, awarding contract upgrades to young fast bowler Anrich Nortje, all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and batsman Rassie van der Dussen, who all played more matches last season.

Former skipper Faf du Plessis has also been offered a new contract by the board, suggesting he will be an important member of the team which has a busy summer, which includes home Tests against Sri Lanka and Australia.

"We have contracted 16 men's players and 14 women's players which we feel is the appropriate number to maintain our national squads across the formats," CSA Acting Chief Executive Dr Jacques Faul said in a statement on Monday.

"This enables us to contract both our Test players as well as those who are limited overs specialists."

South Africa also has a T20 series against India at home and away tours to West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

CSA said, "those players performing and selected for the Proteas during the 2020/21 season and who are not contracted can qualify for a National Contract upgrade."

"We have decided to keep the 17th men's contract open for the moment and players can qualify for it through performance," Faul said.

In the women's category, Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta have earned contract upgrades during the course of the past season.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSA has currently suspended all forms of cricket in the country for the next two months, including first-class cricket, List A cricket (Momentum Cup), all semi-professional and provincial cricket; as well as all Junior and amateur cricket.

South Africa's three-ODI series in India was also called off due to the spread of the deadly disease and the players are currently in quarantine.

CSA contracted men's players: 

Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

Contracted women's players: 

Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk, Laura Wolvaardt.

(With PTI inputs)