The announcement of the Proteas’ T20 World Cup squad on Tuesday revealed a notable absence: that of Bavuma. This is not a matter of whether Bavuma should be included in the squad based on cricket considerations. This is not a viable option. Mr. Bavuma's last T20I half-century was scored in July 2021 (against Ireland) and his average in his last 20 T20I innings was 19.
It was evident that Bavuma has benefited from consistent T20I selection despite the selectors being unable to provide a compelling rationale for his inclusion.
Bavuma's performance at the 2022 T20 World Cup was below expectations, with an average of 18 and a strike rate that was below the industry average. He was not selected at the 2023 SA20 auction but was subsequently drafted by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape as a replacement for an injured player. The franchise once again selected him for the 2024 tournament, but he played just four matches. IPL franchises also declined to select Bavuma, a decision that has been consistent throughout his career.
It is evident that he is not a competent T20I player, and his omission from the Proteas’ World Cup squad is not a courageous decision on Walter’s part; it is a logical one.
When asked if the board and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe had approved the decision, Walter replied that no squad is selected without consultation with the director of cricket.
The CSA's media release announcing the squad did not refer to their former T20I skipper being dropped, and the media did not ask any direct questions about Bavuma's exclusion. This was perplexing, given the strong advocacy by CSA and numerous media outlets for the retention of Bavuma despite his chronic struggles in the format.
The Proteas have until May 25 to amend their squad, provided that there are no medical reasons preventing them from doing so. The exclusion of Bavuma is likely to attract political interest, particularly given that this is an election year in South Africa. It is therefore possible that political grandstanding and even political intervention may be related to this issue. This matter is not yet concluded.
However, this should be the case. Bavuma is a highly competent ODI player (despite recent form) and an ever-improving Test batsman. However, his strengths are not well-suited to the T20 format, and his weaknesses are more evident in that context.
There is a strong possibility that a narrative will emerge suggesting that a black batsman is being unfairly blamed for the Proteas’ poor performance in major tournaments. Even the most basic analysis indicates that a mediocre batsman has suffered an understandable fate.
Bavuma’s absence has resulted in the squad having just one black African player, namely Kagiso Rabada.
When asked about the implications of this for the national team, Walter said:
“My No. 1 imperative is to create a winning Proteas team. In order to do that I must pick the team, at the time, that gives us the best chance of doing that. With that said, the system needs to up the ante so that in six, 12 months, or two years time, and particularly when we reach the 2027 World Cup at home, the demographics and representation will look a bit different.”
Walter's assessment is accurate. CSA is responsible for transforming the game at levels below the national team. This process is occurring at a gradual pace, which may be insufficient given that we are three decades post-apartheid.
Bavuma was hailed as a product of the game’s success in this regard. It is likely that this was not an easy burden for him to bear. He may yet identify an effective approach in T20 cricket and regain a place in the Proteas squad in the coming months. It is a hope that he will succeed. A flourishing black African batsman, particularly one who can also captain and bat effectively, is a wonderful and inspiring reality.
Currently, he is in the T20 wilderness with only the opportunity to redeem himself as a company.