"I don't know," South Africa's coach Rob Walter on Quinton de Kock's T20I future

Quinton de Kock has already retired from test cricket and ODIs.

South Africa head coach Rob Walter has opened up on wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock’s T20I future after he was not named in the squad for the two-match T20I series against Ireland in the United Arab Emirates later this month.

De Kock, who is no longer part of Cricket South Africa’s contracted players’ list, hasn’t announced a complete retirement so far. He retired from test cricket in 2021 and from ODIs after the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

The wicket-keeper batter was part of South Africa’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad but missed the three T20Is against the West Indies in August 2024 and won’t play against Ireland either.

I don’t know, to be dead honest: Rob Walter on Quinton de Kock’s T20I future

South Africa cricket team head coach Rob Walter has indicated that he has kept the door open for Quinton to approach him about his T20I future but doesn’t expect the cricketer to do so in the near future.

“I don’t know, to be dead honest. For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again. I’ve left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen,” Walter said at a press conference.

Walter further cleared that de Kock’s place is not guaranteed in the Proteas’ line-up and if he is picked in the future, it will be based on his performances and not reputation.

“There might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected. We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do. What will become more and more important is performance. He’s not exactly old so from here on in, it’s a performance-based conversation,” Walter added.

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