South African players who’ve been picked for the World Test Championship Final in opposition to Australia are likely to miss the IPL playoffs because the nation’s cricket board is standing agency on prioritising nationwide responsibility over league commitments.
The BCCI confirmed on Monday that the IPL will resume on May 17 with the ultimate slated for June 3.
However, the revised schedule has left players from WTC finalists Australia and South Africa in a decent spot. The franchises and the BCCI have urged international boards to make their players obtainable for the rest of the match.
CSA, nevertheless, has reiterated its dedication to WTC Final preparations.
“It is an individual decision, obviously, to return or to play or continue,” CSA’s director of nationwide groups and excessive efficiency Enoch Nkwe stated throughout press convention.
“One thing we’ve made clear, and we are finalising this with the IPL and the BCCI, is sticking to our original plan when it comes to the WTC preparations.”
“May 26 is the latest for the Test guys to come back. The original plans don’t change because the No. 1 priority is the WTC final. We’ve been engaging with them over the last day or two to make sure we’re all on the same page,” he added.
Eight South African players — Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Chalengers Bengaluru), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians), Corbin Bosch (MI), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings) and Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad) — have been named within the Proteas squad for the WTC Final, scheduled to begin from June 11 in London.
Currently, GT, RCB, MI, PBKS, DC and LSG are in competition for an IPL playoff spot.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad echoed CSA’s stance.
“Our initial agreement with IPL-BCCI was, with the final being on the 25th, our players would return on the 26th, so that it allows them ample time before we fly out on the 30th. As it stands, we’re not budging on this. We want our players back on the 26th,” he stated.
“That is the ongoing conversations that are being had between people in a higher pay grade than I am. They’re dealing with that. We want our players back on the 26th and hopefully that comes to fruition.”
The IPL season was suspended on May 9 due to a army confrontation between India and Pakistan, triggered by the April 22 terrorist assault in Pahalgam, South Kashmir. A ceasefire introduced the next day paved the best way for the match’s resumption.
As per the brand new schedule, the league stage ends on May 27, with playoffs working from May 29 to June 3, dates that conflict with CSA’s WTC preparations.
While CSA has taken a robust place, Cricket Australia has allowed its players to resolve individually, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is ready to overview its No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
Published – May 15, 2025 03:41 am IST
