Mustapha Cassiem will provide a cutting edge to the SA team at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands next month.
South Africa have named an experienced yet evolving 20-man squad for next month's FIH Hockey World Cup, with captain Dayaan Cassiem set to lead the country's challenge after an encouraging build-up on home soil.
The squad announcement follows South Africa's unbeaten five-Test series against Malaysia in Durban, where the hosts secured the series 3-0. The final Test ended with an emphatic 5-2 victory, highlighted by Kenton Melville's first international hat-trick as South Africa underlined the growing confidence in the squad.
Cassiem, who heads to the World Cup on 99 international caps, anchors an experienced core that also includes younger brother Mustapha Cassiem, Nic Spooner, Sam Mvimbi, Andrew Hobson, Calvin Davis and Tevin Kok.
The Malaysia series provided several encouraging signs ahead of the global showpiece. Goalkeeper Cullin de Jager continued the outstanding form that earned him Goalkeeper of the Tournament honours at the FIH Nations Cup, while Mustapha Cassiem returned from injury to bolster the attack. Melville's hat-trick in the final Test and the continued emergence of younger players such as Brendan du Toit, Damian Knott and Jamie Seale also demonstrated South Africa's growing depth.
