“Those players awarded IPL contracts will be released early to join their respective teams.” – CSA bends the knee to cricket’s biggest event.
Telford Vice | Cape Town
THE Indian Premier League (IPL) has impacted on the squad CSA has been able to select for their T20I series against Pakistan next month. Of the 10 South Africans who are due to play in cricket’s biggest tournament, five are in the ODI squad that will precede the T20Is. The same five players are not in the T20I squad because that rubber will clash with the IPL.
A CSA release on Thursday announcing the squads dismissed the issue glibly: “In terms of an agreement between CSA and the BCCI, those players awarded IPL contracts will be released early to join their respective teams.” Or is that resignation that the international game is no longer the top priority for players in a country where the cricket economy is fragile and fading?
The five players are Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller and Anrich Nortjé, all of whom would have been obvious selections in the T20I squad. CSA could, its understanding with the BCCI notwithstanding, refuse to give no-objection certificates to those looking to earn money by playing domestic cricket in other countries. But, given the state of the game in South Africa, where administrators have lurched from one governance crisis to another for years and where there will be 75 fewer contracts for domestic players next season, that would likely precipitate a slew of international retirements. The IPL and the South Africa players involved in it thus have CSA over a barrel.
There will be shock in some quarters that Faf du Plessis is in neither squad. Could CSA have forgotten such a major figure so soon after his retirement from Test cricket last month? Not quite: this, too, has been caused by the IPL effect. “The next two years are T20 World Cup years,” the former all-format captain was quoted as saying by CSA when he hung up his whites. “Because of this my focus is shifting to this format, and I want to play as much of it as possible around the world so that I can be the best player I can possibly be. I strongly believe that I have a lot to offer to the Proteas in this format. This does not mean that ODI cricket is no longer in the plans; I’m just making T20 cricket the priority in the short term.” Especially as Du Plessis is no longer contracted to CSA, that means playing in the IPL.
Fast bowlers Sisanda Magala and Lizaad Williams have been named in both squads, and allrounder Wihan Lubbe and fast bowler Migael Pretorius are in the T20I group. All are uncapped. Kyle Verreynne, who has played three ODIs but no T20Is, has been picked for both series. Wiaan Mulder and Aiden Markram, who last played white-ball cricket for South Africa in March and July 2019, are in the ODI squad. As is Daryn Dupavillon, who played his only ODI to date in March last year. There will be keen interest to see Magala in action at this level. A skillful bowler and effective hitter down the order, this wholehearted player has been in South Africa’s squad before only to fall foul of the fitness requirements.
The series will mark the first time Temba Bavuma is at the wheel since being appointed South Africa’s white-ball captain on March 4. An incisive, creative thinker, Bavuma led the Lions to the T20 title in February — his third trophy in as many seasons as a franchise captain. The focus on him will be intense.
The players will gather in Pretoria on March 27, and the series of three ODIs and four T20Is will be staged from April 2 to 16.
ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortjé, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad Williams.
T20 squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne, Pite van Biljon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe.
First published by Cricbuzz.
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