Will Graeme Smith be able to solve SA players' IPL impasse before ending stint on March 31? Nortje doubtful

CSA's Director of Cricket Graeme Smith to find a middle-of-the-road solution with regards to availability of top South African players in the IPL earlier than April 15. Delhi Capitals could be doubly hurt as Anrich Nortje hasn't bowled a lot since November and it's not clear if CSA's medical team will give him clearance to play in the Indian Premier League. Some of the top South African cricketers are in danger of missing out on three weeks of IPL due to their home series against Bangladesh which includes three ODI and two Tests starting March 18 and ending on April 12. Save for Quinton de Kock, who has retired from Test cricket and will play for Lucknow Supergiants, there is no certainty on whether Proteas pace attack of Kagiso Rabada (Punjab Kings), Nortje (DC), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Lungi Ngidi (DC) will be available before the Test series against Bangladesh ends.

Read AlsoSouth African cricketers face test of loyalty ahead of IPL: Dean Elgar

South African Test skipper Dean Elgar has urged his teammates to choose national duty in a series against Bangladesh over the upcoming Indian Premier Leageu (IPL) as it is a test of loyalty for them and they must prioritise their country.

Add to it, there is Dwayne Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen, Auden Markram, David Miller. Faf du Plessis has already retired from international cricket. "The BCCI will be approaching Graeme Smith and check out if some of the top players are available at least a bit earlier. We are hopeful of a solution as we share great rapport with CSA. Some of the franchises will be hurt if they aren't available for three weeks," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. During the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic and rising