CRICKET POLL

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has shown signs of retreating from its 'come back by May 26' writ to its players taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 18. Hours after its head coach, Shukri Conrad, declared that "We want our players back on the 26th, and hopefully that comes to fruition," CSA said the negotiations are underway between higher authorities of the South African board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"Yes, we want the Test players back on 26th, but hence I say the matter is getting finalised by higher-ups," Enoch Nkwe, the CSA Director of Cricket, clarified to Cricbuzz on Wednesday (May 14) morning. "(We) can't confirm yet until the matter is settled between the two governing bodies (CSA and BCCI)," the CSA official said, leaving the subject of South Africa players' participation in the IPL beyond May 25 open-ended.

After a one-week pause due to border tensions in the country, the BCCI announced the resumption of the IPL season from May 17 and extended the window till June 3, when the final will be held. Previously, the final was scheduled for May 25.

Among the 20 South African players currently involved in the IPL, eight have been selected for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played between South Africa and Australia at Lord's from June 11. The CSA announced that "the squad will assemble in Arundel (England), on May 31 and will play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from 03 - 06 June, before heading to London on June 7."

Nkwe said the CSA focus is on the WTC final. "As of now the warm-up match starts on June 3. Like I said, the matter is being discussed higher up than me. At ground level, we are focusing on preps for the WTC Final."

Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians), Wiaan Moulder (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) are the eight players who are in the squad for the WTC final. They represent seven different franchises, out of which at least five are in serious contention for playoff berths and four of them own franchises in the CSA-run SA20. In fact, all six SA20 franchises are owned by IPL owners.

This report was altered on May 15, 2025 after CSA clarified on warm-up match schedule