South Africa’s Faf Du Plessis hints he could be back in Proteas team for T20 World Cup next year | Cricket News

South Africa’s Faf Du Plessis has hinted that he is contemplating a comeback into the national team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will happen in the West Indies and USA next year.
While Du Plessis had never officially retired from white-ball cricket, he did not make the cut for the South Africa teams in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup. It must be noted that Du Plessis captained South Africa during two T20 World Cup campaigns in 2014 and 2016.
He indicated that he has held discussions with new South Africa white-ball coach Rob Walter about returning to the international side.
“I believe that I can return to international cricket,” du Plessis told the broadcaster of Abu Dhabi T10 league.“We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It’s just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It’s certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach.”
Du Plessis’ last game for South Africa was the second Test against Pakan in Rawalpindi in 2021. In limited overs’ cricket, he last turned out in the Proteas colours at the end of 2020, when South Africa hosted England in a T20I clash at Cape Town.
The 39-year-old was the second highest run scorer behind Shubman Gill at the 2023 Indian Premier League, scoring 730 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 14 innings.
The 39-year-old captained South Africa in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups but wasn’t considered for the last two editions of the tournament, despite never officially retiring from white-ball cricket.
South Africa coach Walter said earlier this week that the likes of du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw will be considered for the T20 World Cup.
“Given that some of our frontline bowlers are missing out and there are guys – let me throw it out there just to create some media hype – like Faf (du Plessis) and Rilee (Rossouw) as well as Quinny (De Kock) that could well be considered for a T20 World Cup and then also the SA20 that happens next year – 80% of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation,” Walter said.