The South African Test match side has been left in a pickle, as their premier players have all opted to prioritise the Indian Premier League over the Test series against Bangladesh.
The mass exodus of players towards the lucrative league did not seem to impress skipper Dean Elgar, who said that while the board left the decision to each individual, the choices of the players would be “a litmus test of loyalty”. However, the series will still have to be played, and Cricket South Africa announced a 15-man squad for the Bangladesh series.
Middle-order batsman Khaya Zondo, who has shown lots of promise in South Africa’s domestic red-ball tournament, earned a maiden call-up to the side, along with medium-pacer Lizaad Williams.
South Africa have taken a massive hit with their entire first-choice pace battery off to India to play the Premier League, as Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi were all picked up by various franchises in the tournament. They will also have to find replacements for Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, who will represent Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.
Zubayr Hamza, who was part of South Africa’s squad in the New Zealand series, will also be unavailable due to personal reasons, as per an official statement from CSA. Anrich Nortje is still nursing a nagging back and hip injury, which ruled him out of the Bangladesh series. His injury also puts his IPL hopes for the Delhi Capitals in jeopardy, and it remains to be seen if the express pacer will be able to recover in time for the marquee tournament.
Uncapped fast bowler Daryn Dupavillion, who was part of the Proteas squad to face Pakistan, has been named for the Bangladesh Test series, and so is wicketkeeper Ryan Rickleton, who was a reserve player in the India and New Zealand series.
The players who are part of the IPL will first feature in the ODI series against Bangladesh and will travel to India upon its conclusion. The latest Memorandum of Understanding between CSA and the South African Cricketers’ Association gives players the opportunity of refusing national duty in favour of participating in overseas tournaments, as the board looks to make it easier for the players from a financial standpoint, after a crisis within the board some time ago had some players worried about their livelihoods.
Khaya Zondo, who has represented his country in six ODIs, has been brilliant for the Dolphins this season, scoring 786 runs in 13 matches, at an excellent average of 52.40 in the last two seasons put together.
Temba Bavuma was unimpressed by the players’ decision to go to the IPL at the expense of the Test series, but nevertheless expressed some optimism ahead of the series.
“Having all your assets at your disposal is obviously something that, as a captain, you would like. Am I happy? Of course. It’s a far from ideal situation. From the point of view of a player who is not affected by the IPL, we would have liked this decision to have been dealt with a lot earlier and with a lot more urgency. On the eve of a one-day series, and with a Test squad due to be announced, we’re still not sure what is happening. We could have learnt from previous years.”
he said in a press conference.
CSA Governor of selectors Victor Mpitsang was also seemingly confident, as he expressed faith in the system. He felt that there were many young players raring for an opportunity to compete for their country at the highest level, and that can now be afforded to them.
“The loss of the IPL players is not ideal, but we back the CSA system, its ever-growing pipeline and most of all, the players we have selected. Every member of the team is selected based on the excellence that they have shown over an extended period of time and there is no better opportunity for them than now, to show us what they have to offer the Proteas on this highly anticipated occasion.”
Mpitsang stated.
