NEWS
Follow UsSouth Africa are slated to play their World Cup Super League matches against the Netherlands and such has been their situation that they need to win both ODIs to qualify directly for the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.
Currently placed ninth in the ODI Super League standings, South Africa need to win both their ODIs against the Netherlands in order to give themselves the best chance of directly qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. As things stand, they have 78 points but both Sri Lanka (77) and Ireland (68) breathing down their neck means that South Africa dropping more points will put their hopes of direct qualification in real jeopardy.
That meant South African players, picked in the squad for the series, will be arriving late in India for the IPL, with the series concluding on April 2. The arrangement, however, didn’t go down well with Gujarat Giants, who lost one of their most important members in the squad, David Miller, to the same.
"They were really upset," Miller told a press conference in Potchefstroom on Monday. "It's always a big thing playing in Ahmedabad, especially in an opening game against Chennai. I am a bit disappointed to be missing that, but to put on the green and gold has always been a huge privilege and honour.
“And we have got some work to do in those two games against the Netherlands, so I think having a strong team - the best squad we can pick - is definitely the way forward. I will be missing one game so, whether I'm somewhat disappointed or not, the process has taken place."
Apart from Miller, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and Marco Jansen will also be missing the first few days for Sunrisers Hyderabad whereas Delhi Capitals will not have the services of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. Mumbai Indians' Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis, Lucknow Super Giants' Quinton de Kock, and Punjab Kings' Kagiso Rabada will also not be available for at least one game.
"We weren't given an option in any way," Miller said. "Be that as it may, we've got our best squad on the park and we've got a lot of work to do in those two games. So it will be nice to be able to focus on that.”
Gujarat Giants are starting their IPL 2023 campaign with a match against Chennai Super Kings on March 31, 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 31, 2023.
