 "South African seam-bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen is reportedly set to return to India for the remaining matches of the 2025 Indian Premier League, according to latest reports. AP")
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad had emphasised on national duty ahead of T20 leagues and Cricket South Africa (CSA) had set 26 May as the deadline for its players to return home from the Indian Premier League .
However, with the ongoing IPL season getting extended to 3 June due to the recent military standoff between India and Pakistan, and the BCCI using its considerable influence to get foreign boards to send their players, CSA appears to have retreated from its previous stance.
‘Matter is getting finalised by higher-ups’: CSA Director of Cricket
A report on Cricbuzz quoted CSA Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe as saying that discussions currently are underway between the top brass of the South African board and the BCCI.
“Yes, we want the Test players back on 26th, but hence I say the matter is getting finalised by higher-ups. (We) can’t confirm yet until the matter is settled between the two governing bodies (CSA and BCCI),” Nkwe, who was appointed Director of Cricket in 2022, told the website.
The ongoing season of the Indian Premier League was suspended for a week on Friday, 9 May due to the armed conflict between India and Pakistan, a day after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala getting called off due to security concerns.
Most of the overseas players and members of the support staff had flown back home after the week-long suspension was imposed, with the likes of PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting and Mumbai Indians players Mitch Santner and Bevon Jacobs staying back.
Also Read | IPL tweaks replacement rule to help teams tackle loss of overseas players
While a majority of those players are expected to return for the remaining matches of the season, there were doubts over the availability of Australian and South African cricketers due to the two nations facing off in the final of the ICC World Test Championship at Lord’s from 11 June – eight days after the IPL final in the revised schedule.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOf the 20 South Africans who currently are playing in the IPL, eight have been included in the Proteas’ squad for the WTC final that was announced on Tuesday. That includes senior pacer Kagiso Rabada, who had recently served a suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen, who is among the eight players included in the squad for the WTC final, has reportedly confirmed his availability for Punjab Kings with the Shreyas Iyer-led franchise on the verge of reaching the IPL playoffs for the first time in 11 years.