Faf du Plessis has revealed that he wanted to play the recently finished T20 World Cup for South Africa, but Cricket South Africa (CSA) wanted him to be available to play all the bilateral series leading up to the World Cup, which was not possible for him as he had decided to play in the franchise leagues on a regular basis.
According to Du Plessis, he was a three format player for South Africa and the board had clearly conveyed to him if he wanted to play for the national team, he would have to be ready to play whenever he was selected for either of the three formats and his franchise league commitments wouldn’t be taken into consideration while picking him. That was the reason he decided to bid adieu to Test cricket.
But, as it turned out, Cricket South Africa (CSA) was not ready to give him a break from the T20 international bilaterals either. If Du Plessis had committed to play in T20I bilaterals for South Africa, he would have had no time in his hand to play franchise leagues.
The 37-year-old reckons that playing in franchise leagues is a decision which is vital at this stage of his career and since there was no settlement between him and CSA about a possible solution for him to play in franchise leagues as well as in the World Cup, he eventually couldn’t play the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
“We couldn’t find a middle ground and I think they wanted people who were available all the time and that made it a challenge,” Du Plessis said while talking to ESPNcricinfo.
Faf du Plessis is still available for selection in limited over international cricket
Although South Africa performed well in the T20 World Cup even without Faf du Plessis and managed to win 4 out of their 5 games, a lot of fans were still not pleased and were of the belief that Du Plessis should have been a part of the South African squad as he would have strengthened the top order a lot.
Du Plessis has still not retired from limited over international cricket and if CSA wants, they can pick him for the next T20 World Cup which is scheduled only in a few months’ time in Australia, but they will have to find a way where Du Plessis would be able to play franchise leagues as well.
The South African veteran is currently one of the most sought after players in the franchise circuit and might go for a big amount in the next IPL mega auction.
