CSA 'caught in a storm' not of their own making as tough IPL decision looms

Pholetsi Moseki, Cricket South Africa's (CSA) new full-time chief, has intimated that the Proteas could indeed be without a few stars for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh due to IPL commitments.

This season's country-versus-franchise debate is of particular relevance because the two-match skirmish, scheduled for Durban and Gqeberha, provides points for the ICC's World Test Championship and suggests South Africa need their best players available.

It also coincides with the start of the annual T20 bonanza.

"There are many domestic T20 leagues that have affected bilateral tours. Our current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) gives CSA the right to refuse a release for a player, but we also support allowing them to join the tournament (at the expense of international cricket)," Moseki said following the confirmation of his "new" position.

"Players involved in the IPL make a lot of money, a source of wealth that's very good for their post-cricket careers. This issue has always been a very delicate balance. 

"You will remember that we released a few players halfway through a tour by Pakistan because we, as an organisation, understood that livelihoods had to be considered alongside national duty."

Four current Test members - Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen - were picked up in this year's IPL auction.

To more parochial members of the local cricketing fraternity, the thought of a class act like Rabada sacrificing Test cricket for franchise T20 action borders on blasphemy and would probably steer some of the blame towards CSA too.

Yet Andrew Breetzke, CEO of SACA, points out that in the greater scheme of things, the local