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Mark Boucher backs unsold SA20 star Temba Bavuma '100 per cent'

South Africa head coach Mark Boucher has backed his captain Temba Bavuma ahead of the T20 World Cup, after he was left in the cold following the SA20 auction.

The Proteas captain, who has spent a couple of months on the sidelines due to an elbow injury, was one of the players left standing idly following Tuesday's SA20 auction, where he was left unsold.

While it's understandably a huge personal disappointment for Bavuma, Boucher reiterated that as captain, he still has a more meaningful task ahead of him as he leads the Proteas on a white-ball tour to India and the World Cup next month. And more importantly, he has the full support of his coach and teammates.
"Temba Bavuma is our leader, and I back him 100%," said Boucher, who will end his tenure as national coach after the World Cup.
"Yes, there is a lot of talk on social media about all the stuff, about this and that, I don't really care. He is our leader, and we back him in this team like you can't believe.
"The guys were there last night, we were having a couple of drinks, and I could just see the energy around him because I understand the situation he is going through. The bottom line is we are on a journey, and we have been on a journey the last two years.
"What happens in leagues and auctions, you can't control that... unfortunately, it is what it is. From a Proteas perspective, we do back him 100% and going into a massive tournament like a [T20] World Cup, he will be a massive part of our team."
On the subject of Bavuma being left out in the cold, Durban Super Giants coach Lance Klusener admitted it was tough to see.
"It is brutal out there'" said Klusener.
"There is a lot of competition for places. It just shows you that it doesn't necessarily mean that if you are a good player in SA' you have the same recognition around the world. There are good players out there and maybe this will strive people who did get bought to work a little bit harder for next year."

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