Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been included in the Proteas’ squad for next month’s T20 World Cup in the United States of America and Caribbean.
De Kock has retired from Test and ODI cricket – and is not contracted by Cricket South Africa. He is currently playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
“Quinton is key in more than one way. He wasn’t great in the SA20 and his IPL at the moment is okay, but not at the level where we can say that is the Quinny that we know,” former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince told IOL Sport.
“But it was a risk for coach Rob Walter to leave him at home, because we know his quality. The T20 World Cup is a stage where we know he can turn up and bring experience and his explosive hitting at the top of the order.
“From Quinny’s point of view, you want him to pitch up in the right frame of mind. Maybe with the T20 World Cup, like the 50-over World Cup, he will realise this could be his last opportunity to pitch up on the big stage.”
Fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen and Ryan Rickelton have also been named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“Quinny has competition in the team, because Rickelton showed in the SA20 that he is an explosive player to the top of the order. Klaasen can also take the gloves,” added Prince.
“Quinton has got to give Rob and the management the feeling that he means business.
“The guy is at the back end of his career. He stopped his Test career and ODI career to spend time with his family and do things that make him happy. He already has one foot out the international door by choice.
“But he has to get to show Rob and the management team that he is fully invested.”