Ottneil Baartman’s absence from the Proteas’ roster for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been questioned by legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn, who calls the decision difficult to defend given Baartman’s steady performances in white-ball cricket.
Baartman was a member of the South African team that placed second to India in the Barbados 2024 T20 World Cup final. The 32-year-old has only played in 11 of South Africa’s 29 Twenty20 Internationals since that competition, though. He was not included in the 15-man roster for the 2026 edition, which would take place in India and Sri Lanka, despite his impressive domestic accomplishments. A pace-heavy attack with Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Corbin Bosch, and young left-armer Kwena Maphaka was chosen by the selection panel.
Despite his stellar SA20 record, the right-armer was left out. He just overtook Marco Jansen as the tournament’s top wicket-taker and has been among the most reliable bowlers across all editions.
Steyn, who spent three seasons as Baartman’s bowling coach with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, talked candidly about his exclusion from the national team for the major competition.
“It is imperative that we begin considering Baartman as one of the top white ball bowlers in South Africa. He has taken the most wickets in SA20, won the league twice, and advanced to the final—remember, that’s a competition with four international players, most of whom are batters—as well as all the proteas! He is the best. The former South African cricket player posted on X, “That’s TOP quality, but he’ll be sitting home for this year’s 20/20 WC.”
We really need to start looking at Baartman as one of SA’s best white ball bowlers.
He’s the highest wicket taker in SA20, won the league twice and made a final, let me remind you, that’s a comp that has 4 INTERNATIONAL players (often batters) plus all the PROTEAS! He’s number…
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) January 5, 2026
With statistics of 2 for 8 in 2.4 overs, the Oudtshoorn native recently bowled a game-winning spell for the Paarl Royals against MI Cape Town at Newlands. David Miller, the captain of the Paarl Royals, expressed sympathy for his teammate and acknowledged the difficulty of such omissions, but he also commended Baartman’s professionalism in carrying on with his performance.
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