South Africa Asks IPL-Bound Players to Return by May 26 for WTC Final Prep

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has asked its eight players currently participating in the IPL 2025 to return by May 26 in preparation for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, scheduled to begin on June 11 at Lord’s. The original agreement between CSA, the BCCI, and the IPL franchises was based on the IPL ending on May 25. However, due to a one-week suspension amid the recent India-Pakistan conflict, the tournament’s final has now been rescheduled to June 3.
Despite the extended IPL schedule, CSA remains firm on its demand that the players return as per the initial plan. “The initial agreement with the IPL and the BCCI was that our players would return on the 26th to allow ample preparation time before our departure on the 30th. From our perspective, nothing has changed,” said South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during a press briefing on Tuesday.
CSA has also planned a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from June 3 to 6, ahead of the high-stakes WTC final. Conrad emphasized that conversations about the release of players are ongoing at the administrative level. “That is being handled by Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe and CEO Pholetsi Moseki. But we’re not planning to budge. We want our players back on May 26,” he stated.
The eight South African players currently in IPL 2025 and named in the WTC final squad include Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (both Mumbai Indians), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), and Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals).
Of these, only Wiaan Mulder is expected to return on time, as Sunrisers Hyderabad have been eliminated from playoff contention and play their final league match on May 25. The rest remain critical to their respective franchises’ playoff hopes.
CSA Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe confirmed ongoing discussions with IPL and BCCI officials, , “We are still in talks and hopeful for a positive resolution.”