South Africa’s uncertainty over Quinton de Kock’s international availability continues, with the star batter omitted from another T20I series. De Kock, who has not announced a complete retirement from international cricket, missed the recent T20s against West Indies and will not feature in the upcoming matches against Ireland.
White-ball coach Rob Walter expressed uncertainty about de Kock’s future with the national team. “I don’t know, to be dead honest,” Walter said. “For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again.”
De Kock’s absence has prompted South Africa to invest in other players, including Reeza Hendricks as an opener and Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton, and Heinrich Klaasen as wicketkeepers. However, Klaasen is currently unavailable due to personal reasons.
Walter emphasized that de Kock’s place in the team is not guaranteed, even if he expresses a desire to return. “There might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected,” Walter said. “We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do. What will become more and more important is performance.”
De Kock’s decision to prioritize league cricket over international commitments has sparked a debate about the balance between franchise and national team obligations. South Africa’s decision to allow de Kock to miss a bilateral series in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup was seen as a significant shift in their selection policy.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding de Kock’s future, South Africa remains focused on preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup. They will play four T20Is at home against India in November as part of their preparations.
