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Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
South Africa take another U-turn, negotiate with IPL over WTC final-bound stars; MI, DC, PBKS face blow to playoff hopes
Cricket South Africa (CSA), on Thursday, took another U-turn on their decision to send the World Test Championship (WTC) final-bound players to India for the last leg of the IPL 2025, which will resume on May 17. As many as eight IPL-bound players have been picked in the South Africa Test squad for the WTC final against Australia, which will begin on June 11 at the Lord's. After CSA announced the squad for the final, a day after BCCI made it official to resume the IPL 2025 season, the board reportedly indicated that they need those eight players back by May 26 in preparation for the match in London. Later, CSA's director of national teams Enoch Nkwe, confirmed the same in a presser. However, a few hours later, he issued a small correction on the deadline date, saying it had been pushed back by a week. "Correction – the squad will resume training for the game on June 3rd," said Nkwe. 'The matter is being discussed higher up than me. At ground level, we are focusing on preps for the WTC final.' In a second U-turn, South Africa now need their players back home by May 27, according to a report in the ESPNCricinfo. "Cricket South Africa (CSA) has concluded negotiations with the IPL about the early release of these players, given the importance of the WTC final, which will be played on June 11 at Lord's against Australia," the report said. The eight IPL-bound South African players included in the WTC squad - Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (both Mumbai Indians) - will join the rest of the squad at home on May 27 and leave for London three days later, where they will play a warm-up game against Zimbabwe from June 3 at Arundel in preparation for the match against Australia. Gujarat have played the majority of the season without Rabada and hence are unlikely to worry over his absence, as they now stand just a win away from making the playoffs. However, Mumbai will be concerned with the side set to miss two of their players. Rickelton has been their second-highest run-getter, while Bosch has played handy cameos in the three games he played. Punjab will also be worried with Jansen being their third-best bowler this season with 11 wickets in as many matches, while Stubbs has been impressive as a finisher for Delhi Capitals. Both these teams are well in the race to make the playoffs with three games remaining for each. LSG, currently placed seventh on the points table, do have their chances diminished compared to the aforementioned four, but they will miss the services of Markram, who scored 348 runs in 11 innings for them, especially with the team needing to win all their remaining games to qualify.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
To return or not to return: Foreign players face dilemma ahead of IPL resumption
L-R: Jos Buttler, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Rickelton and Marco Jansen WTC Final, Eng-WI series leave franchises in a spot of bother with several foreign players in dilemma over return for IPL's resumption The latest Cricket South Africa (CSA) directive of recalling its IPL-bound players by May 26 has come as a body blow for the franchises, who will chase different goals upon the resumption of the league on Saturday. Making life more difficult for the teams is the impact that the England-West Indies ODI series, beginning May 29, could have on them as well. SA, slated to face Australia in the WTC final at Lord's in London from June 11, have reiterated their desire to bring the players back by the original deadline. 'Our initial agreement with the IPL and the BCCI was that our players would return on May 26. As it stands, we are not budging on this,' SA coach Shukri Conrad said when asked about the extended IPL, which will run until June 3. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Eight players picked in SA's 15-member WTC final squad, including Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) and Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), are contracted to IPL teams. SA are set to land in England on May 31 and play a four-day practice match against Zimbabwe from June 3, meaning their players are unlikely to feature in the playoffs. Who's that IPL player? Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) has put the ball in the players' court, saying the team management will come up with fresh preparation plans for players 'who choose to play' the rest of the IPL. Australia are scheduled to have a pre-final camp in Scotland from the end of this month, before travelling to England for the title clash. While Pat Cummins and Travis Head (both represent SRH who are eliminated) are likely to return, Josh Hazlewood (RCB) is set to give the final phase of IPL a miss. Poll Should foreign players prioritize international matches over the IPL playoffs? Depends on the player's situation No, IPL is important for their careers Yes, international duty comes first The Englishmen who have been named in the contingent for the home assignment against the West Indies are expected to fly out of India before the IPL playoffs. Among those selected are Jos Buttler (Titans), Will Jacks (Mumbai) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers), leaving their top-four chasing franchises with lastminute work to do. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), like the CSA, had provided assurance that its centrallycontracted players would be available for the entire IPL, but has been left with no other option because of the revised schedule. There is no clarity on whether Sherfane Rutherford (GT) and Romario Shepherd (RCB), picked in the Windies ODI squad, will stay for the playoffs in case their teams make the cut. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on IPL, India-Australia rivalry | Part 1 HOW TEAMS COULD BE AFFECTED GUJARAT TITANS Jos Buttler: The versatile wicketkeeper-batter will be badly missed as he has formed a nearperfect top-three with skipper Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan. The top-order has done the bulk of the scoring for GT this campaign. Sherfane Rutherford: The West Indian lends firepower to the Titans middleorder packed with uncapped Indians. He has delivered some crucial cameos and for now, GT do not have a like-forlike replacement in the squad, given Glenn Phillips too is out with injury. Kagiso Rabada: GT have performed well even in the absence of the ace South African pacer. If he doesn't return, Gerald Coetzee, who is not part of SA WTC Final squad, can take his place. ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU Jacob Bethell: The Englishman performed his duties after replacing the injured Phil Salt at the top of the order. With Salt expected to be back for the rest of the tournament – as mentioned by batting coach Dinesh Karthik – Bethell may not be much of a miss. Romario Shepherd: The all-rounder has been a regular in the XII since the time he came in for the out-of-form Liam Livingstone. The West Indian played a match-winning knock against CSK. He reached Bengaluru late on Wednesday, ending all speculation. Josh Hazlewood: Could be the biggest miss. The Australian pacer has spearheaded the attack and been one of the standout bowlers this season. RCB do not have a quality back-up who can match the calibre of Hazlewood and may have to rely on Nuwan Thushara. PUNJAB KINGS Marco Jansen: Another probable big blow. The South African all-rounder has been the best-performing overseas player for Punjab. He picked up his bowling form, especially with the new ball, as the tournament progressed. Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett can replace him if the lanky paceman doesn't return. Josh Inglis: The Australian wicketkeeper-batter has been a floater in the line-up, but has not made a significant contribution yet. With Prabhsimran Singh being a mainstay, PBKS do not have an headache in the wicketkeeping department. Marcus Stoinis: Though not part of the WTC Final squad, there is a chance he may not return. The Aussie has not lived up to the expectations, barring the knock against SRH where he smashed four successive sixes. Azmatullah Omarzai, who broke back into the XII recently, can replace him. Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 14 years MUMBAI INDIANS Ryan Rickelton: The southpaw has formed a formidable opening pair with Rohit Sharma and has been in fine nick. MI do not have an overseas replacement for him at the moment, neither do they have a wicketkeeper batter close to that quality. Will Jacks: While the Englishman has not set the IPL on fire, he has been a utility player. With MI lacking a genuine off-spinner, he has chipped in with some crucial overs. Corbin Bosch: The South African made it to the XII following the injury to leftarm spinner Mitchell Santner. Once Santner is back in the mix, Bosch may not be missed much. DELHI CAPITALS Jake Fraser-McGurk: Though not part of WTC Final squad, opener has pulled out citing personal reasons. Poor returns from the Aussie opener meant that he was already dropped from the DC team with Faf du Plessis coming in place of him. Mitchell Starc : The left-arm pacer lost steam in recent matches and did not provide the cutting edge at the start or death. Following his pull-out, Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been drafted in and he can be a decent back-up. Tristan Stubbs: The South African has been a vital cog in the Capitals wheel, taking up one of the toughest jobs of finishing the innings. His probable absence can be a massive blow for DC. KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS They will not be missing any overseas players due to clash of schedules. LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS Aiden Markram: The opener has been one of the top run-getters for LSG, who will need his services for all three remaining league matches if they are to keep faint playoff hopes alive. Super Giants have Matthew Breetzke, but he may not be able to match Markram's impact. * Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings have already been eliminated from the IPL.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Jos Buttler, Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell's participation in playoffs in limbo ahead of IPL 2025 resumption
Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) might miss the IPL 2025 playoffs after being named in England's ODI squad for the series against West Indies. The BCCI announced the revised schedule for the IPL season on Monday after the tournament was suspended last week owing to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. A ceasefire was announced on Saturday, and hence, the organisers took the call to resume the tournament on May 17, 2025. The final will now be played on June 3. However, the IPL playoffs will now directly clash with the three-match ODI series between England and West Indies, beginning May 29. The remaining two ODIs will be played on June 1 and 3, respectively. The trio are expected to arrive back in India for the league stage of IPL 2025. However, they need to obtain fresh NOCs from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) if they are to participate in the playoffs. If the trio participate in the playoffs, provided their teams reach that far, they will be missing the ODI series against the West Indies. Qualifier 1 and Eliminator of the IPL 2025 season will be played on May 29 and 30, respectively. Qualifier 2 will go ahead on June 1. The ECB had earlier issued NOCs to all IPL-bound England players till May 25 (the original date of the final). Since, the tournament has been extended by eight days, the players would be required fresh NOCs. Gujarat Titans, RCB and Mumbai Indians are in the top four of the points table and are expected to make it to the playoffs of the ongoing edition. Buttler has scored more than 500 runs for Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 season, and he, along with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, have been exceptional in helping the franchise to cement their place at the top of the standings. Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell have also done well in the limited chances they have got in the ongoing edition of the tournament. RCB opening batter Phil Salt is expected to be available for the entire tournament considering he has not been named in the ODI squad for the series against West Indies. Salt had previously missed the matches against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to a fever. However, he is expected to be available for the franchise for the remainder of the tournament. England Men's ODI squad for the series against West Indies: Harry Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith
