Johannesburg: Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was named South African Test team captain for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka.
The 16-member squad includes rookie opener Sarel Erwee, wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne and medium-pacer Glenton Stuurman, the trio receiving their maiden call-ups.
Eight months after South Africa's director of cricket, Graeme Smith had ruled him out, limited over skipper De Kock was handed the reins of the Test squad for the 2020-21 season on a temporary basis with a permanent captain to be announced in the coming months.
Pretorius was ruled out of the recent white-ball series against England with a hamstring concern while Rabada picked up a groin strain during the T20Is.
The two Tests, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), will be South Africa's first since the coronavirus pandemic hit the sport and will played over the traditional Boxing Day (Dec 26-30) and the New Year's (Jan 03-07) windows.
South Africa squad for Sri Lanka Tests:
Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Beuran Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Sarel Erwee, Anrich Nortje, Glenton Stuurman, Wiaan Mulder and Keegan Petersen