'We want our players back on...': South Africa new head coach's message to 8 WTC Final-bound players set to affect 7 IPL franchises

'We want our players back on...': South Africa new head coach's message to 8 WTC Final-bound players set to affect 7 IPL franchises
Kagiso Rabada of South Africa celebrates with Tristan Stubbs of South Africa as they get the wicket of Naseem Shah of Pakistan during day 3 of the 1st Test at SuperSport Park on December 28, 2024 in Centurion, South Africa.

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South Africa head coach wants WTC final-bound players back by May 26.

The IPL 2025 final is scheduled to be played on June 3.

The WTC final between South Africa and Australia will begin on June 11.

The club versus country debate has resurfaced as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 resumes later this week. Several overseas players can be recalled for national duty. There is a big question mark on availability of Australia and South Africa's players who need to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at Lord's Cricket Ground, starting June 11. Weeks ahead of the WTC final, South Africa's newly-appointed head coach Shukri Conrad has said that he wants his players to honour the original contract which was May 25 and then return for the preparatory camp. 

"The initial agreement with the IPL and the BCCI was with the final being on the (May) 25th, our players would return on the 26th so that it allows them ample time before we fly out on the 30th. Nothing has changed from our perspective.

 

 

"That is the ongoing conversations that are being had between people in a higher pay grade than I am, i.e. the Director of Cricket (Enoch Nkwe) and Pholetsi Moseki (CSA CEO), so they're dealing with that. But as it stands, we're not budging on that, I don't think. We want our players back on the 26th, and hopefully that comes to fruition," Conrad said on May 13. 

 

 

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The move is set to affect as many as seven IPL franchises. Even the league stages won't be over my May 25. Also, it will be a big blow for the teams advancing to the playoffs. 

Star WTC players set to leave

The players who are likely to leave early are -- Delhi Capitals' (DC) Tristan Stubbs, Punjab Kings' (PBKS) Marco Jansen, Gujarat Titans' (GT) Kagiso Rabada, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Lungi Ngidi, Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) Wiaan Mulder, Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) Aiden Markram, Mumbai Indians' (MI) Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton.

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South Africa's non-WTC players

Meanwhile, South African players who are not a part of WTC squad are SRH's Heinrich Klaasen, DC's Faf du Plessis and Donovan Ferreira, Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje, LSG's David Miller and Matthew Breetzke, Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) Dewald Brevis, GT's Gerald Coetzee, SRH's Heinrich Klaasen and RR's newly picked Nandre Burger, Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with Kwena Maphaka.

The IPL 2025 resumes on May 17 with RCB taking on KKR. It is not clear how many South African players will rejoin their respective squads.