Rabada picked by South Africa for test cricket final after serving ban
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada celebrates during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, file)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Kagiso Rabada was picked by South Africa for the World Test Championship final against Australia next month after serving a one-month suspension for using a recreational drug.
The fast bowler has already been cleared to return to play and is back in the Gujarat Titans squad ahead of the restarting of the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
Rabada was banned for testing positive for a recreational drug during a domestic Twenty20 competition in South Africa in January.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said Rabada was eligible for a reduced one-month ban because he completed a substance-abuse treatment program. Rabada has said in a statement he is “deeply sorry” for his conduct.
When announcing the 15-man squad on Tuesday, South Africa said the group will assemble in England on May 31 and play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from June 3-6, before heading to London ahead of the WTC final starting June 11.
The Proteas’ pace attack will also include Lungi Ngidi, who returns to the test fold for the first time since October 2024 after injury problems.
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Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket