Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said the Proteas face a tricky test when it comes to dealing with free agents like Faf du Plessis in the lead up to the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia.
Graeme Smith said he has no doubts that Faf du Plessis is fit and good enough to play for South Africa again but stressed that the team management needs to take a call on whether they need free agents for the senior national team.
Notably, Smith, who was the Director of Cricket of Cricket South Africa, had elaborated on why South Africa did not pick Faf du Plessiswho is no longer part of the central contracts list for T20 World Cup in 2021.
Faf du Plessis proved his mettle, leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to IPL 2022 playoffs, taking over as captain from Virat Kohli, scoring 468 runs.
Du Plessis last played a T20I for South Africa in December 2020, following which he retired from Tests in 2021, saying his priority will be on T20 cricket. Du Plessis maintained that he had not given up on ODI hopes as well.
“South Africa have got an equation where they have to figure out what their best XI is. Faf du Plessis is still fit, retired from the longer formats of the game and it’s that challenge that India doesn’t face free agents,” Smith told Star Sports on Sunday, June 19.
“Players are playing in leagues around the world. How much time can he give to South Africa in the lead up to the World Cup. Do they pick him straight for the World Cup or should he part of the build-up where he understands the team culture, the thinking, training and preparing. India doesn’t face that challenge but for other nations (dealing with) free agents is a difficult one.
“We know Faf has the ability, the team has to decide how much time he needs to spend with the team.
“Maybe he is in that phase of his life where is happy to play the leagues, he is retired maybe from international cricket, maybe that’s where he wants to be,” he added.
Unlike India, which does not allow its contracted players to play in overseas leagues, South African stars play across the globe, including in the IPL. Du Plessis has been playing the IPL, Caribbean Premier League along with other T20 franchise-based leagues since the time he was overlooked for the senior national team.
South Africa were led by Temba Bavuma at last year’s World Cup wherein they failed to make the semi-final by a whisker. The Proteas challenged India hard at their own backyard, heading home with a shared trophy after the 5-match series ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.