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THE T20 World Cup 2026co-hosted by India And Sri Lankais now just over a month away, with the tournament scheduled to begin on February 7. As tension mounts, several major cricket boards, including India and Australiahave already begun releasing their provisional squads, leaving fans to speculate on the final lineups of the remaining powers.
For South Africa, the pursuit SA20 2026 The league serves as the ultimate audition ground, providing a high-stakes platform for veterans and rising stars to prove their worth. The competition for the final 15 places is fiercer than ever, as the Proteas aim to finally clinch the world title that narrowly escaped them in the previous edition.
Dale Steyn backs South Africa player’s white-ball statement despite no hope for T20 World Cup 2026
Legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn became a staunch defender of Simon Harmer‘s inclusion in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad, citing the big game’s incredible recent form and temperament. Harmer has been in sensational touch, most recently making history during the Test series in India late 2025, where he took 17 wickets at a staggering average of 8.94, surpassing Steyn’s long-standing record for the most wickets by a South African in a series on Indian soil.
Although he is often seen primarily as a red-ball specialist, Harmer has made a strong statement in the shorter formats; In the current SA20 2025/26 season, he was called up by The super giants of Durban to replace the legendary Sunil Narine, immediately making an impact with his controlling and wicket-taking ability. His T20 statistics over the past year show significant development, with an improved economy rate of 6.17 in his appearances in early 2026 and a knack for making crucial breakthroughs at mid-off. Steyn argues that on the turning tracks of India and Sri Lanka, in the very conditions where Harmer has just dismantled the Indian Test line-up, his experience and over 500 first-class wickets become an invaluable asset.
Harmer’s ability to extract rebounds and sharp turns, combined with his usefulness in lower-order batting, makes him a unique tactical option that Steyn believes the Proteas cannot afford to ignore. Even if the selectors lean towards Keshav Maharaj And Tabraiz ShamsiSteyn insists the Harmer effect provides the psychological edge and variety needed in a World Cup campaign.
“Simon Harmer won’t be selected in the Proteas squad for the World Cup, but seriously, he makes a valid white-ball statement if I’ve ever seen one.” Steyn wrote about X.
Simon Harmer won’t be selected for the Proteas World Cup squad, but seriously, he makes a valid white-ball statement if I’ve ever seen one.
-Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) December 30, 2025
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South Africa’s heartbreaking journey so far in T20 World Cup history
South Africa’s journey through T20 World Cup history has been a saga of immense talent often met with heartbreaking conclusions. Since the inaugural tournament they hosted in 2007, the Proteas have participated in every edition but have often been haunted by narrow misses and technicalities of net run rate. Their most painful chapter came in the most recent T20 World Cup 2024where they reached their first ever final in any format. Despite being in a winning position against India, they fell short by only seven points, finishing second.
Before that, they reached the semi-finals in 2009 and 2014, but were thwarted by Pakistan And India respectively. For a team that has produced T20 legends like AB de Villiers (their top scorer of the tournament with 717 points) and Anrich Nortje (their highest wicket-taker with 35 scalps), the empty trophy cabinet remains a point of national obsession. As they head towards 2026, the Proteas are desperate to shed the ‘underachiever’ label and finally convert their consistent high-profile performances into a world title.
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