The Proteas have announced the squad for the tour of Pakistan, which is scheduled to start next month. The team will play two Test matches, three ODIs, and three T20Is on this tour. Quinton de Kock, who had retired from ODIs after South Africa’s loss in the semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023, has been named in the squad.
De Kock last played a T20I game for the Proteas during the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 and has been picked in the T20I squad as well. South Africa will play a single T20I game against Namibia, a day before the Test series against Pakistan starts, and de Kock has been named in that squad as well. If everything goes well, de Kock will be back in Proteas colours on October 11.
De Kock made his ODI debut in 2014 and has featured in 155 matches. He has made 6770 runs at an average of 45.74, including 21 centuries and 30 half-centuries. In T20Is, de Kock has amassed 2584 runs in 92 matches at an average of 31.51 and a strike rate of 138.32.
Will De Kock Play In The World Cup for South Africa?
De Kock’s comeback has come at a time when a T20 World Cup is scheduled for next year and an ODI World Cup will be played in 2027. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will co-host the ODI World Cup.
He would be eyeing to feature in both the coveted tournaments. However, South Africa’s all-format coach Shukri Conrad has different views. De Kock’s inclusion in the T20I and ODI squads against Pakistan doesn’t guarantee him an automatic chance in the squad in both the World Cups.
“There’s nothing like, ‘I’m only available for a World Cup,’ or this or that. There are actually no strings attached,” Conrad said. “The questions were quite simply: why would you like to come back? Are you committing to all (white-ball) formats? So it’s not just with the T20 World Cup around the corner. The guy’s committed to playing all (white-ball) formats for South Africa, however we choose to use him.”
Leave a Comment