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For the UAE tour South Africa have rested its first-choice players where they will face Afghanistan and Ireland in white-ball matches, as their Champions Trophy preparation gets underway.

Star and key players like Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Miller or Heinrich Klaasen have not been select in either the ODI or T20I squads, with the management broadening the player pool instead.

In September and October, the UAE will host South Africa’s white-ball series against Afghanistan and Ireland.

South Africa white-ball head coach Rob Walter on Monday announced the squads, beginning with the ODI series against Afghanistan followed by T20Is and ODIs against Ireland.

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The Proteas will face Afghanistan in three ODIs from September 18 to 22 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, before heading to Abu Dhabi for two T20Is on September 27 and 29 and three ODIs from October 2 to 7 against Ireland. All five matches will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. 

Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, and Nqaba Peter have been selected for the South African team's upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan and Ireland. Andile Simelane will be part of all three squads, while Jason Smith and Nqaba Peter are in line for ODI debuts.

The team has also been boosted by the return of pace bowler Lungi Ngidi, who has recovered from a right calf injury.Ngidi has featured for Proteas in just 2 T20Is and Two Tests since last year in November.

Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma will lead the ODI squads for both the Afghanistan and Ireland series, while Aiden Markram will captain the team in the T20Is.

"We have decided to give opportunities to some of the fringe players as well as those who have impressed in recent weeks and months. This has been a deliberate move from management, in line with our goal of building a wider pool of players to choose from, as we prepare for the major ICC tournaments taking place over the next 18 months, with a long-term view on the 50-over World Cup in 2027," Proteas' white-ball head coach Walter commented on the selection of the squads.

“There is no doubt that tours such as these offers us this unique opportunity to provide players with international exposure in differing conditions compared to what they are used to."

“I am particularly looking forward to seeing how some of the more experienced players step up, whilst keeping a close eye on who can grab this opportunity and become more regular within the national set-up," he added.

South Africa ODI squad against Afghanistan: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams.

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South Africa T20I squad against Ireland: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams.

South Africa ODI squad against Ireland: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, and Lizaad Williams.