The international season officially starts next week, when South Africa tour Namibia for a T20I tri-series, which will also feature Zimbabwe, and three ODIs against Namibia. Rabada, along with most of the frontline attack and both captains (Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram) was not named in the travelling squad, with a view to managing his workload in a packed schedule. South Africa begin playing at home in September, when they host Australia for ODIs, followed by three Tests. Rabada will be needed for that, and other red-ball assignments against Bangladesh and England between November and January.
South Africa’s other concern has come in the A team where international left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Senruan Muthusamy has been ruled out of the first unofficial Test against Bangladesh A with a lower back spasm. Muthusamy was part of South Africa’s Test squad in the subcontinent in 2025 and could have an important role to play as they defend their World Test Championship title.
