CSA to consider releasing South Africa players early for IPL

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have said they will consider releasing some of their players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) who would, otherwise, be busy in a home Test series against Bangladesh during the first quarter of the league. Players like Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram could miss a substantial chunk of games should they be coming after the end of the two-Test series.

The CSA said it will consider the matter but stopped short giving an unfettered commitment. “We will consider the matter after the IPL auction has taken place when we know which players are going to play in the IPL,” Lawson Naidoo, the head of CSA, told Cricbuzz on Friday (February 11).

The comments, coming ahead of the auction could boost the price of these South Africans. Nortje has already been retained by Delhi Capitals and bowlers like Rabada, Ngidi, Jansen and Markram could be hotly pursued by the franchise if their availability is not severely restricted.

The IPL is, tentatively, expected to start on March 27 and those coming after April 11, would not be available for five-six matches because of the five-day period of required quarantine after their arrival in India. Asked if the likes of Rabada and Nortje will be released, the CSA boss said, “The team management has not discussed the matter as yet.”

Availability of Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir is not a problem since they either don’t play Tests or don’t play for the country at all. There are 33 South Africans in the 590-player auction list. South Africa and Bangladesh will play three ODIs and two Tests which run March 18 and April 11.

After the recent India tour of South Africa, the equation between the BCCI and CSA is back on track, so much so that the BCCI had seriously considered moving the IPL to South Africa at one stage. For the record, the BCCI has not ruled out that option so far. (Cricbuzz)