Cricket South Africa (CSA) unveiled its squad for the 2024-25 season, introducing newcomers Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi to the national contracts list while welcoming back Andile Phehlukwayo. However, notable exclusions from the roster include Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock.

Nortje, who has been sidelined since September 2023 due to a stress fracture, remains absent from the squad despite his recent return to domestic T20 cricket. CSA's director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, clarified that Nortje aims to focus on T20 cricket initially, with plans to reassess his availability for ODIs later in the year.

De Kock, who retired from ODIs post the 2023 World Cup, was overlooked for selection after a lackluster performance in the Big Bash League. However, he remains in contention for the upcoming T20 World Cup, provided he delivers consistent performances.

Other notable omissions include Sisanda Magala, Wayne Parnell, and Keegan Petersen, who have dropped off the contract list due to various reasons, including injuries and form concerns.

In contrast, CSA rewarded Burger and de Zorzi with contracts following their impressive performances across formats. Phehlukwayo's return to the squad underscores his resurgence in limited-overs cricket after being dropped last year.

The core of the contract list remains stable, with Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram leading the Test and ODI squads, respectively. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen retain their contracts as white-ball specialists, while the women's contracted squad sees minor adjustments, including the inclusion of Eliz-Mari Marx and Ayanda Hlubi.

Overall, the squad changes reflect CSA's strategic approach to nurturing talent and maintaining competitiveness across formats, with a keen focus on future tournaments and series.