Ex-South Africa captain indicates return for World Cup T20 2024

Ex-South African captain Faf du Plessis has informed that he is considering a comeback to international cricket and will try his best to participate in next year’s World Cup T20 2024. 

The 39-year-old batter dynamic batter hasn’t played an international match since he appeared 

Du Plessis hasn't played an international match since he appeared for South Africa in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2021 and his last white-ball clash for his country was at the T20I contest against England in Cape Town at the end of 2020.

But the 39-year-old has been performing well in recent times at domestic tournaments and is only second behind Shubman Gill in the list of most runs scored in this season of the Indian T20 League. He amassed 730 runs for the Bangalore franchise from 14 innings in the last edition of the franchise league. 

Faf is presently in Abu Dhabi partaking in another domestic tournament and has hinted he has been in talks with the new South Africa white ball coach Rob Walter which indicates a potential return to the international arena before the beginning of the World Cup T20 in the USA and Caribbean 2024. 

"I believe that I can return to international cricket," du Plessis stated.

"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 led the Proteas side during two World Cup campaigns in 2014 and 2016 but wasn’t in the setup for the last two seasons of the marquee event despite the fact that he never announced retirement officially from international white ball cricket. 

Rob Walter also eased all ropes for a possible return of Du Plessis and a list of other experienced players while he mentioned the group of players who weren’t considered for the forthcoming tour of India. 

“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,” Walter expressed.

“And then also the (South African domestic tournament) SA20 that happens next year - 80 per cent of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation."

The former skipper no longer holds a central contract with the South African Cricket Board, although he has 23 international hundreds across formats of the game and is confident that he is still in good touch to return to playing cricket for his country. 

"I do a lot of hard work to ensure I look after my body to be able to play this brilliant game we love so much," he added.

"When you do get a little bit older, you have to make sure you put in the work. 

"Otherwise, the hamstring and other body parts do not work that well. 

"There is a lot of fast running and a lot of stuff to make sure that level where you can play against the best players in the world.”