Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced their squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia. The showdown will take place at Lord’s from June 11 to 15 for a chance to take the Test mace home. However, this isn’t the talking point.
Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 resumes from May 17 and ends on June 3 now due to the tensions between India and Pakistan, there is a strong chance that foreign players don’t return. Most were granted NOCs (no objection certificates) until May 25.
Will CSA allow players to play the full IPL 2025?
Since international cricket resumes after May 25, it is uncertain whether boards will now allow their players to return to IPL 2025. But skipping a bilateral is much different than missing to win an ICC trophy. That’s what South Africa has on the line.
The WTC Final 2025 will take place just 8 days after the IPL 2025 Final. One can’t forget that players were in India from the middle of March until early May. The situation in India scared many of them, and some even returned home. Players like Lungi Ngidi are coming back for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but no one knows when he’ll return.
As many as 8 players from South Africa’s WTC Final squad are part of IPL 2025 teams. And 7 of them are playing for sides which can still make the playoffs. This brings up the question, what will prevail? Will franchise leagues reign supreme, or will international cricket fight back?
South African players in IPL 2025 & WTC Final 2025
Mumbai Indians: Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton
Gujarat Titans: Kagiso Rabada
Delhi Capitals: Tristan Stubbs
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram
Punjab Kings: Marco Jansen
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Lungi Ngidi
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Wiaan Mulder
South Africa squad for WTC Final 2025
Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne (wk), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.
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