South African players currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are preparing to depart early, with Cricket South Africa (CSA) instructing all its players involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to return by May 26. Overall, 20 South African players are currently participating in the IPL, eight of whom have been selected in the squad for the WTC final.
"The initial agreement with the IPL and BCCI was that players would return on May 26, following the final originally scheduled for the 25th. Nothing has changed from our perspective; that is the ongoing conversation. As it stands, we want our players back on the 26th," SA head coach Shukri Conrad said.
South African players who have been named in the WTC final squad are - Corbin Bosch, Ryan Rickelton (Mumbai Indians), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Aiden Markram (Lucknow SuperGiants), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), and Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals).
Meanwhile, Indian Premier League was scheduled to conclude on May 25 before the rising tensions between India and Pakistan halted the play for a week. Now, according to the revised schedule, IPL will end on June 3, with playoffs set to begin on May 29. Notably, World Test Championship (WTC) Final is scheduled to take place at Lord’s from June 11 to 15, 2025. South Africa are reportedly expected to leave for England by May 31