Captain of Proteas Temba Bavuma heads home and misses warm-up matches of WC 2023
The 33-year-old has been in good form with the bat before the World Cup 2023, as he scored 217 runs in his four innings against Australia in the recent victory by the Proteas 3-2 in South Africa.
According to a statement from Cricket South Africa, Temba Bavuma has traveled back home due to family reasons, with Man of the Series against the Aussies' Aiden Makram captaining the side in his absence.
South Africa was due to face Afghanistan in the first warm-up match on Friday; however, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. The Proteas are scheduled to take on New Zealand on Monday, but that match could also be chalked off due to inclement, lousy weather predicted for the day.
Bavuma is expected to be back with the squad in time for their 2023 Cricket World Cup opener match against Sri Lanka on October 7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Dehli.
South Africa has already lost seamers Anrich Norje and Sisanda Magala due to injury and fitness issues and will be banking on their captain to lead them in India as they look to overcome the "chokers" tag at ICC tournaments.