WTC Final-bound South Africans to miss IPL 2025 playoffs, confirms BCCI

The South Africans who are set to take part in the ICC World Test Championship final next month will have to be released by their Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises latest by 26 May, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday. The development comes after talks between the top brass of BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA), which had originally set the aforementioned date as the deadline for their players to return from the IPL, and has stuck by it.

Of the South Africans who are part of various IPL franchises, eight have been named in the Temba Bavuma-led squad for the WTC final against Australia, which will be getting underway at Lord’s on 11 June – eight days after the IPL final in the revised schedule unveiled by the BCCI on Monday.

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This includes Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada, who had recently served a suspension for testing positive for a prohibited substance. Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals) and Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are the other WTC-bound South African players who will be part of the action in the remaining games of the ongoing IPL season.

West Indian players available till the end of the season, says BCCI

The board, however, added that West Indian players will be available for the remainder of the season, including those who have been included in the squad for the ODI series in England – which takes place from 29 May to 3 June, during which the IPL playoffs will be underway.

“The South African players must return to South Africa at the latest by Monday, May 26. West Indies players will be available throughout the tournament,” read a statement from the BCCI that was conveyed to the franchises.

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The move comes as a big blow for some of the franchises that currently are in the race for the playoffs. Jansen has played a major role in Punjab Kings’ stellar performance this season, which has put the Shreyas Iyer-led side on the verge of qualifying for the IPL playoffs for the first time in 11 years.

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Rickelton, additionally, is an integral part of the Mumbai Indians batting line-up as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner, with the right-left combination further proving beneficial for the five-time champions who have staged a remarkable comeback this season. MI are the only franchise losing two South African players ahead of the playoffs, with Bosch having also made handy contributions as a back-up seamer and middle-order batter.

Among other players who are returning to India but are missing out on the playoffs are GT wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who will be leading England in the ODI series against the West Indies.

The 18th season of the IPL had been suspended for a week last Friday due to a recent military conflict between India and Pakistan, which also brought the Pakistan Super League to a screeching halt.

The BCCI later conducted a meeting on Sunday following a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations on Sunday, and unveiled an updated schedule a day later in which the remaining matches get underway on 17 May and the final takes place on 3 June – nine days after the original date.