Temba Bavuma. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
- Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said he is touched by the disappointment of not being part of the SA20.
- Bavuma was not picked up by either franchise, even when they appeared empty due to player absences.
- Bavuma will lead SA in their three-match ODI series which begins in Bloemfontein despite not having played white-ball cricket since November last year.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma has made peace with not being part of the SA20, saying he is over that disappointment.
Bavuma, who remains the captain of the T20 team, was not chosen in last year’s auction, where his base price of R850,000 failed to win a bid from any of the six teams.
Even when players were unavailable for various reasons, Bavuma was still not picked, with the example of Joburg Super Kings opting for Sibonelo Makhanya as a replacement for England batsman Harry Brooks.
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Even his T20 teammate Andile Phehlukwayo, who also didn’t find a home during the auction, was picked up by the Paarl Royals.
Bavuma admitted to the unusual nature of a national T20 captain not being in what is the main T20 competition, but said he has moved on from that disappointment.
“It seems unusual, but it happened this way, and there’s really nothing I can do about it, unusual as it is,” Bavuma said.
“People have to move on and I’m definitely one of those people who just moves on with things. Whatever comes my way, comes my way.”
“I always try to keep a smile on my face no matter what’s going on.”
Bavuma, who has not played white-ball cricket since South Africa’s infamous 13-run loss to the Netherlands in Adelaide on November 6, said he took it easy during the SA20 break.
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Bavuma featured in all three Tests against Australia which SA lost 2-0, while his provincial team the Lions won the 1-day South African Cricket Cup.
Bavuma will lead the men’s over-50 team for the three-match ODI series against England which begins in Bloemfontein on Friday.
“I’ve been taking it easy for the last two weeks and connecting with the family, so it’s been really relaxing,” Bavuma added.
“I tried to watch one or two SA20 games, and it was pretty exciting. I’ve been taking it easy and day by day.”
