Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to resume from Saturday, May 17 after the tournament was halted seeing the escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. However, the cash-rich league was suspended for a week and will resume this weekend, with the final set to be played on June 3.
Seeing the postponement of the IPL, several cricket boards will have a daunting task seeing their players’ availability, who are also bound by their franchise commitments. Amidst this, Cricket South Africa has left the decision upon its players, while they have reiterated its commitment to the World Test Championship (WTC) final preparations. It is to be noted that the WTC Final 2025 is set to be played from June 11 to 15 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
It is an individual decision to return or to play or continue: CSA
The statement from CSA comes after Cricket Australia back its players to return to India for the remainder of IPL 2025 o not. Seeing this, CSA has also shared its stance on its player’s participation. “It is an individual decision, obviously, to return or to play or continue,” CSA’s Director of National Teams and High Performance, Enoch Nkwe said during the press conference. “One thing we’ve made clear, and we are finalising this with the IPL and the BCCI, is sticking to our original plan when it comes to the WTC preparations,” he added. If IPL-bound Protea players decide to leave for the WTC final preparations, they are likely to miss the playoff-stage of the tournament, which is scheduled to be held from May 29 till June 3.
“May 26 is the latest for the Test guys to come back. The original plans don’t change because the No. 1 priority is the WTC final. We’ve been engaging with them over the last day or two to make sure we’re all on the same page,” he further addressed. It is to be noted that eight South Africa players from IPL have been named in the WTC Final squad.
Moreover, South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad also backed the CSA Director’s stance while highlighting the original plan which had the players return to South Africa on may 26 following the completion of the tournament. "Our initial agreement with IPL-BCCI was, with the final being on the 25th, our players would return on the 26th, so that it allows them ample time before we fly out on the 30th. As it stands, we're not budging on this. We want our players back on the 26th," Shukri Conrad said.
"That is the ongoing conversations that are being had between people in a higher pay grade than I am. They're dealing with that. We want our players back on the 26th and hopefully that comes to fruition," he continued.
