For months Quinton de Kock looked content roaming the T20 franchise circuit, but the Proteas’ left-hander has stunned fans by reversing his retirement from international cricket. The 32-year-old, who last wore South African colours in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
Welcome back, Quinny
De Kock had seemingly shut the door on the international stage. He stepped away from Tests in 2021, citing family reasons, and announced his ODI retirement before the 2023 World Cup, where he still finished as South Africa’s top run-scorer with four centuries. Then, he faded away from the T20 setup after a heartbreaking loss against India in the 2024 World Cup final.
Yet conversations behind the scenes with CSA officials and Lions management paved the way for a comeback. Signing a fresh deal with the DP World Lions, his first professional home, meant that De Kock was eyeing a return.
With a T20 World Cup looming in February 2026, head coach Shukri Conrad and selectors Patrick Maroney and Enoch Nkwe have been keen to bolster their batting options. De Kock’s wealth of experience, including 155 ODIs, 92 T20Is and 54 Tests, plus his reputation as one of the most destructive openers in white-ball cricket, makes him a valuable re-addition.
Bavuma sidelined, Breetzke to captain ODIs
De Kock’s comeback headlines a tour packed with changes. Temba Bavuma, the Test captain, is ruled out of the entire trip with a calf injury, leaving Aiden Markram to lead the red-ball side in Pakistan. CSA has opted for heavy rotation: Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder are among those rested from white ball action due to workload management, with David Miller taking charge of the T20I team and Matthew Breetzke leading the ODIs.
Simon Harmer, 36, has earned a recall after clearing his action at ICC testing. He joins a spin contingent featuring Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen, while Keshav Maharaj is only expected to be available from the second Test. Zubayr Hamza also finds a way back into the Test fold after strong domestic returns.
South Africa will also play a one-off T20I in Namibia on October 11 with a second-string squad captained by Donovan Ferreira.
| Date | Match Details | Time (Local/GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, Sat | Namibia vs South Africa, Only T20I | 1:30 PM / 08:00 AM GMT |
| Oct 12, Sun – Oct 16, Thu | Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st Test | 9:30 AM / 04:30 AM GMT |
| Oct 20, Mon – Oct 24, Fri | Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd Test | 9:30 AM / 04:30 AM GMT |
| Oct 28, Tue | Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st T20I | 8:00 PM / 03:00 PM GMT |
| Oct 31, Fri | Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd T20I | 8:00 PM / 03:00 PM GMT |
| Nov 01, Sat | Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd T20I | 8:00 PM / 03:00 PM GMT |
| Nov 04, Tue | Pakistan vs South Africa, 1st ODI | 2:00 PM / 09:00 AM GMT |
| Nov 06, Thu | Pakistan vs South Africa, 2nd ODI | 2:00 PM / 09:00 AM GMT |
| Nov 08, Sat | Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI | 2:00 PM / 09:00 AM GMT |
South Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20Is
David Miller (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams
South Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIs
Matthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile
South Africa’s squad for Namibia T20I
Donovan Ferreira (capt), Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Lizaad Williams
South Africa squad for Pakistan Tests
Aiden Markram (capt), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj (second Test only), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne
