South African Test captain Dean Elgar on Friday called for his star players to put playing for their country ahead of the riches of the Indian Premier League.
South Africa are scheduled to play Bangladesh in three one-day internationals and two Test matches, starting on March 18. The IPL starts on March 26 but players will need to report early for the lucrative tournament in order to comply with a three-day quarantine requirement.
Eleven South African players are due to play in the IPL, including the country’s four leading fast bowlers – Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, as well as Test batsmen Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen.
Speaking at an arrival press conference following South Africa’s drawn Test series in New Zealand, Elgar revealed that Cricket South Africa had put the onus on the players to reveal whether or not they were keen to go to the IPL.
“It’s a tough one, putting that in the players’ box, but I guess you will see where players’ loyalty lies,” said Elgar. Elgar said he intended to talk to the individual players. “They mustn’t forget that Test cricket or one-day cricket got them into the IPL, not the other way around.—APP
