Blow for IPL franchises! South Africa players to miss IPL playoffs due to...
In what has been the latest development, as per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that South African players are all set to miss the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This is because they have been asked by the Cricket South Africa to return home by 26th May.
The IPL 2025 is all set to resume on 17th May after being suspended for one week due to the tensions between India and Pakistan. However, this also changed the schedule of the tournament as earlier it was set to conclude on 25th May but now will end on 3rd June.
The problem that South African players are facing is that just after the IPL, they will be taking on Australia in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In all, 20 Proteas players are part of the league, and out of them, 8 have been named in the team for the ICC clash.
The likes of Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Aiden Markram (Lucknow SuperGiants), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians) and Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals) have been named in the team.
While Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants players might get free early, the problem will be there for the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, who are very much in contention to play the final of the IPL 2025.
Cricket South Africa has asked the players to assemble on 31st May in England. First, they will be locking horns with Zimbabwe in the four-day clash as preparation before taking on Australia. The final of the ICC World Test Championship will be taking place at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London from 11th June.
We want our players back on the 26th, and hopefully that comes to fruition - South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad mentioned that all their players are due to return on 26th May as a part of the agreement with BCCI. He said that they are in talks with the Indian board, and hopefully, all their players will be back in time. Speaking to Cricbuzz, he said:
"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."
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