CSA makes U-turn, allows South Africa players to take part in IPL 2025 playoffs

Cricket South Africa on Thursday (15th May) made a massive U-turn related to calling their players back ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. The governing body has now allowed players to be available in the league till their team requires it.

CSA was very clear on its stance yesterday. They categorically mentioned that all their players should return home by 26th May from IPL 2025, and they want players to get ample time to prepare for the ICC World Test Championship final, which will be played against the Australia National Cricket Team.

South African players were due to return home from IPL 2025 on 26th May

As per the initial agreement with BCCI, the South African players were due to return home after the final of the IPL 2025, which was supposed to take place on 25th May. However, due to the tensions between India and Pakistan, the tournament was postponed for one week and is now all set to resume on 17th May.

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The final of the IPL 2025 has been scheduled for 3rd June, and this puts Cricket South Africa in a massive headache, especially with the ICC World Test Championship starting on 11th June. But the board said that they want all their players back after the 26th, and they will start training on 31st May.

Original plans don't change because the No. 1 priority is the WTC final - Enoch Nkwe

CSA's director of national teams and high performance, Enoch Nkwe, was also on the same page and mentioned that they will stick to their plans, and they have made that clear to BCCI. He stressed that their No.1 priority is the WTC final. Speaking during the press conference, he had said:

"It is an individual decision, obviously, to return or to play or continue. 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.

"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."

The matter is being discussed higher up than me - Enoch Nkwe makes a U-turn

However, after that, CSA was involved in discussions with BCCI and the IPL franchises, and there was a massive change in the stance of the Proteas board. As per the reports in West Australian Today, it is learned that Enoch Nkwe took back his statement and made changes to the plans.

The South Africa National Cricket Team will now begin preparations for the WTC final from 3rd June. Enoch Nkwe said that the matter is discussed higher up than him, but at ground level, he is focused on preparations. He said:

“Correction – the squad will resume training for the game on June 3rd,” he said. “The matter is being discussed higher up than me. At ground level, we are focusing on preps for the WTC final.”

Out of the 20 South African players who are part of the IPL 2025, eight have been named in the squad for the ICC World Test Championship final. The playoffs of the IPL 2025 are all set to begin on 29th May, and it is expected that Proteas players will be there for it now.

Eight players who part of WTC squad are Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians), Corbin Bosch (MI), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings) and Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

Read also: 'Virat Kohli wanted to continue in Tests, BCCI cited his last 5-6 years form': Ex-India star's sensational claim