কেন ফাফ ডু প্লেসিস এসএর হয়ে খেলছেন না
The South African cricket team, fondly known as Proteas, boasts of some exceptional talents who have made their mark on the global arena over the years. Among them is Francois “Faf” du Plessis, a veteran player whose skills and leadership qualities have earned him respect from both his fellow teammates and the franchise world alike. However, in recent times, questions surrounding du Plessis’ absence from the South African side have been raised consistently by fans all around the globe.
History with The National Team
Du Plessis first represented South Africa at the international level in 2011. Since then, he became an integral part of the team due to his consistent performances and tactical acumen. His contributions were not just limited to his batting; he also proved himself to be a capable leader, taking up captaincy duty across all formats post AB de Villiers’ resignation.
Throughout his international career, Du Plessis proved time and again that he was more than just a cricketer – he was a figure who could guide South Africa through challenges both on and off the field.
The Announcement
However, things took an interesting turn when du Plessis announced after the disastrous Test series against England (2019-2020) that he would step down from his position as Test captain but would continue playing as a batsman for SA. It came as quite a shock. Quinton de Kock succeeded him as Test captain while Faf continued contributing with his bat.
Just when everyone thought that du Plessis’ days of serving with responsibility were over, another announcement came in August 2021 where he stated that he had decided to hang up his boots from Test cricket altogether but remained available for ODI’s and T20Is.
Full Video in Youtube
Limited-overs Availability
Many believed at the time that by retiring from Test cricket, the former Proteas captain was seeking to prolong his career in shorter formats. However, there has been a conspicuous absence of du Plessis from SA’s limited-overs squads since his retirement announcement.
Questions began arising – why is Faf du Plessis not playing for South Africa even though he is available and willing to do so?
Unanswered Questions
The answer remains unresolved as neither Cricket South Africa (CSA) nor du Plessis himself have provided a concrete reason behind this decision. Rumors are rife with speculations that it might be due to either strategic differences between du Plessis and the team management or his age being taken into consideration for rebuilding phase which focuses on youngsters. Some also suggest heightened commitments towards franchise cricket may be the cause.
Rumored Reasons
One popular theory suggests that CSA and the team’s selectors are focusing more on developing young talent as part of their larger strategy for the future. There is a strong emphasis on youth development, aiming at ensuring we have solid teams ready to compete at high levels in upcoming global events like World Cup etc. As part of this shift, experienced players like du Plessis might not find regular selection justified.
Furthermore, some believe that given how busy Faf’s calendar is with various international T20 leagues such as IPL, Big Bash League, CPL etc., maybe he and the board mutually agreed upon giving him rest and recuperation time whenever possible.
The Current Scenario
As it stands today, Faf continues to play league games around the globe while fans continue hoping to see him back in green and gold again. With limited official information available about why Faf Du Plessis isn’t playing for South Africa despite being available, conjectures continue swirling among fans and experts alike. Whatever the case may be, it’s undeniable that Du Plessis’ absence from the South African team is a loss not just for his fans, but also cricket as a whole. His wealth of experience and knack for stepping up in crunch situations are facets that any team would miss – and it’s sure that the future Proteas squads are no exception.
