In a welcome U-turn, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided to let its star players continue in the Indian Premier League (IPL) till the end of the tournament. Earlier, the board had drawn a hard line—ordering all players to return by May 26 to prepare for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s, starting June 11. This decision had sparked concern among IPL franchises, as eight key South African names were part of the playoff-bound teams. But CSA has now shifted gears. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, CSA’s Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, said that preparations for the WTC final will commence after the IPL concludes on June 3. The sudden change means players like Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, and Tristan Stubbs can play the IPL uninterrupted. It’s a timely boost for teams. With IPL 2025 briefly halted due to India-Pakistan border tensions, its restart on May 17 needed all available firepower. The final now sits on June 3, making CSA’s earlier return date a major obstacle. But with this revision, players—and franchises—can breathe easy. Read also: ICC Announces Jaw-Dropping Prize Pool for WTC 2025 Final Early restrictions spark confusion, later clarity brings relief Initially, CSA’s stance was strict. Head coach Shukri Conrad confirmed that there was a deal with the BCCI, and according to that, South African players are compelled to be back by 26th May. That meant no playoffs for the Proteas stars, as international duties called. CSA had plans for a camp in Arundel, England starting May 31, including a warm-up game against Zimbabwe (June 3–6) ahead of the final. Globally, May 25 marks the start of international cricket calendars. Hence, CSA was keen to ensure its squad had enough time to regroup and condition. But the revised IPL calendar collided head-on with these plans, forcing a rethink. Eventually, cricket logic won. With the decision overturned, eight South Africans named for the WTC final—Rabada (GT), Ngidi (RCB), Markram (LSG), Rickelton & Bosch (MI), Jansen (PBKS), Stubbs (DC), and Mulder (SRH)—will now stay till the end of the IPL. That’s a total shift from the earlier deadline-driven exit.