IPL 2023: In what is coming as a piece of bad news for Indian Premier League franchises, South African players are set to miss on some IPL 2023 matches. Only on April 3, four days after the tournament’s start on March 31, will the majority of South African players, including Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, David Miller, and Aiden Markram, report to their respective IPL teams in India. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, and Punjab Kings are the teams that will be majorly affected by this scenario. Follow IPL LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
As per ESPNcricinfo, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has informed the BCCI that it wanted all its top players available for the two-match home ODI series against the Netherlands starting late March.
IPL 2023: BAD news for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, GT, LSG, PBKS as South African players to miss IPL matches due to Netherland ODIs, CHECK out
This decision by CSA could have an impact on up to six of the ten IPL franchises. South African players are included in the squads of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen), Delhi Capitals (Nortje, Lungi Ngidi), Mumbai Indians (Tristan Stubbs, possibly Dewald Brevis), Gujarat Titans (Miller, the defending champions), Lucknow Super Giants (Quinton de Kock), and Punjab Kings (Rabada).
South Africa must defeat Netherlands in the ODI series in order to immediately qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which will take place later this year in India, hence the CSA has taken this action. The Netherlands this week unveiled a potent lineup for the ODIs in South Africa and the series in Zimbabwe.
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 6, 2023
The South African team is slated to play on March 31 and April 2 in Benoni and Johannesburg, respectively in that ODI Super League series vs the Netherlands.
CSA has informed BCCI
In a communication to the franchises about the availability of foreign players last December, the BCCI notified them that contracted South African players would be available starting on March 29, two days before the IPL’s opening game.
But according to CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki, BCCI has been informed of the rationale for the requirement that South African-contracted players participate in the Netherlands series.
The top eight ODI Super League teams advance to the 2023 World Cup automatically, while the worst five must compete in World Cup Qualifiers against five Associate teams.
Currently ranked ninth, South Africa is competing for a direct World Cup entry with the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. Hence the Netherlands series become so important for the Proteas.