Faf du Plessis says South Africa tried to stop Rabada from playing in IPL to remain fresh for WC2019

[Abdullah719]

Q. I just wanted to go back to Kagi for a second. Are you happy with the way he's been managed from a workload perspective over the last three, four years? He's obviously bowled a hell of a lot of balls over the last four years. Are you happy that he was in optimum condition when he came into this tournament?

FAF DU PLESSIS: I don't think we'll ever have a perfect answer for that because he's probably biting on too much. But we did try and get him not to go to the IPL; to try and stay and get fresh. That wasn't the case of -- and then when he went there, we were like, let's try and get him back halfway through the IPL because it's important, not just for him, but a few other players.

I mean, I spoke about it before the IPL even started, that it's important that we try and find space to rest our three-format players, because they play all the formats all the time, and then IPL.

So I don't think it's necessarily just the IPL, but it was important for a few guys to rest; and the fact that they didn't meant that they -- you know, they came into the tournament not fresh. That's not an excuse; that's just a fact. And Kagi is -- you can see that his pace is probably a little bit down from where he normally is.

But that challenge we are going to have as a team all the time. You can't unfortunately go back with the national side and say to Kagi: Listen, you're going to rest for the next two series'. He's such a big player for the team; it's a difficult thing to do. You know, you need guys that can -- you need three or four or five bowlers in the wings waiting, so you can have a bit of a rotation system.

I mean, that was the plan with Anrich in the backup and pipeline, and he got injured, as well. So there for all our pace is gone and there's so much responsibility on Kagi to carry that load of being the lone fast bowler.

 

[Syed1]

Has looked tired and not up for it throughout the tournament. Thank you IPL

 

[marlonbrowndo]

This is just an excuse but Rabada has been quite poor this World Cup

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

Heartbreaking. Big names are totally failed in WC. Amla, miller, de kock.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Faf du Plessis "we did try and get him (Kagiso Rabada) not to go to the IPL" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWC19</a> <a href="https://t.co/rUmbcDIfw2">pic.twitter.com/rUmbcDIfw2</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1142898624843698179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Pete Rose]

I think his pace has been fine. Maybe a bit out of form.

 

[Savak]

To be honest, Rababa fed off Morkel and then Dwayn Olivier. He is incapable of carrying the whole attack on his shoulders. I thought he was below par against Pakistan in the South African conditions outside when the pitches were no longer pacy and bouncy

 

[Green Patriot]

First Steyn,now Rabada.
Guess who has it in him against the IPL

 

[GrandMaster]

Blame it on IPL

 

[topspin]

Rabada is a far superior test bowler, so no IPL has nothing to do with it.

 

[Inswing]

Then why indian players are performing so well ??

Indian players went on to win champions trophy 2013 after the ipl and with a relatively new squad

 

[shane]

Could they not just refuse to issue him with a NOC? I know it has the potential to lead to bad blood between the player and the board but if you are not going to refuse to issue them in these circumstances, what's the point of even having the NOCs?

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The South Africans are playing like minnows in this WC and all they can do is come out with lame excuses like this.

 

[topspin]

The South Africans are playing like minnows in this WC and all they can do is come out with lame excuses like this.

Really is a lame excuse. If he's carrying a niggle like Steyn, then fair enough.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Where are the sports injury experts now who were saying that resting has nothing to do with workload and remaining fresh before tournaments?

 

[gazza619]

Has looked tired and not up for it throughout the tournament. Thank you IPL

Doesnt that apply to India’s bowlers too?

 

[Abdullah719]

Fast-bowlers with the heaviest workloads over the last 2 years.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Pretty poor from Faf.

Trying to stay politically correct unlike Rabada himself who has blamed the quota system.

 

[dildilpak]

How can he stop anyone from playing in the IPL, when he himself was playing in it? Looks like Faf is finding excuses for Rabada’s non-performance.

Truth of the matter - SA was a team of geriatrics who had to be dropped eons ago. Plus they are carrying some deadweights bcoz of the quota systems & let go of some great alternatives to Kolpak.

 

[Hasan123]

Rabada has been poor in this tournament. In the IPL when I saw him play he was bowling really well. Maybe the injury he picked up hasn’t helped him . South Africa will have to manage his workload going forward.

 

[Abdullah719]

In IPL, Rabada bowled 24 deliveries above 150kph with the fastest being 154.2ks.

In the World Cup, he's bowled one ball above 150kph, which was 150.2ks in the first match against England.

His IPL stint ended with him being injured, by the way. With 900+ overs under his belt in the last two years (in international cricket alone), it's not difficult to see that he has a very heavy workload which may have impacted his performances.

 

[Ab Fan]

Trying is never enough. SA team management should have strictly denied all their players(including Kaptaan sahab, Faf himself) from playing the IPL. Either you go or you don't go. Its your decision.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Batting failures played a huge part.

 

[Majestic_Inzi]

Trying is never enough. SA team management should have strictly denied all their players(including Kaptaan sahab, Faf himself) from playing the IPL. Either you go or you don't go. Its your decision.

Did he play the while ipl, faf?

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Faf sounds like a very depressed man. I watched the full press conference.

Hope his depressing press conference has the effect of picking up his team. Because otherwise, damn, at least say now you're playing for pride or something. Say something to pick up your team.

 

[The Viper]

Rabada was in impeccable touch during the IPL. I think the injury sustained may have had an effect on his bowling form. Its tough to come back from an injury and expect to perform well straight away.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Ok so only Faf can go to IPL and make $$$ but if Rabada etc do the same then they are greedy and unpatriotic. What a depressed and weak captain. What a sorry end of his career.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Ok so only Faf can go to IPL and make $$$ but if Rabada etc do the same then they are greedy and unpatriotic. What a depressed and weak captain. What a sorry end of his career.

I don't follow IPL but if you're saying that Faf played the full IPL, then that's pretty pathetic that he's talking in a press conference how that might have negatively affected Rabada.

 

[BaankeJi]

I don't follow IPL but if you're saying that Faf played the full IPL, then that's pretty pathetic that he's talking in a press conference how that might have negatively affected Rabada.

He played in 12 out of total 16 ( including qualifier and final) of IPL 2019. He was not in final xi of some of initial games but that doesn't mean anything in this context.
He was part of full IPL.

Maybe he is saying that bowlers are impacted more than batsmen. But even then it sounds quite hypocritical.

 

[Balthazar]

They were never going to succeed in this WC, seeing their squad. Most of them are past it and not good enough to be in the team.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

He played in 12 out of total 16 ( including qualifier and final) of IPL 2019. He was not in final xi of some of initial games but that doesn't mean anything in this context.
He was part of full IPL.

Maybe he is saying that bowlers are impacted more than batsmen. But even then it sounds quite hypocritical.

Ok I see. Not the best look for him to be saying that, even if the other guy a bowler.

 

[Revolution]

Our front line bowlers bumrah, chahal, kuldeep, bhuvi, shami were part of IPL who are bowling best in world Cup.

 

[Itachi]

Problem was Amla. RSA virtually started with 0/1 always.

 

[QalandarFan]

Yeah they should really give KG a nice break after the world cup I'd give him the India series in September/October off. It's only a T20I and Test series in India and it's not like SA are gonna get close to winning that series anyways so I'd just let KG have a break till the South African summer in December when England come to tour for that 4 match test series. KG is easily they're best bowler and in Tests he is an even better bowler. Just need to give him that break though he's bowled a looot in the past 3 years for a big fast guy like him.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Rabada isn't a great ODI bowler to begin with and on pitches that aren't greentops he doesn't have much to show. About time people stop overrating him based on his exploits on doctored SA test tracks.

 

[jiduguravindra]

Problem was Amla. RSA virtually started with 0/1 always.

They will take that considering how amla is playing even if he stays at the crease...

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pretty poor from Faf.

Trying to stay politically correct unlike Rabada himself who has blamed the quota system.

Faf can't say stuff like that. Anyway he's actually right in that KG's bowling workload has been way too much for a 24 year old and it's not just IPL. CSA are also to blame for playing him across all formats round the year.

 

[Balthazar]

Yeah they should really give KG a nice break after the world cup I'd give him the India series in September/October off. It's only a T20I and Test series in India and it's not like SA are gonna get close to winning that series anyways so I'd just let KG have a break till the South African summer in December when England come to tour for that 4 match test series. KG is easily they're best bowler and in Tests he is an even better bowler. Just need to give him that break though he's bowled a looot in the past 3 years for a big fast guy like him.

I think that India Test series is part of World championship. Don't see how they are going to rest him.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Anyone who actually watched the post match presser would know that Faf wasn't making excuses. He was asked about KG and what he would have done differently and he answered that he would have liked his bowlers rested for the World Cup.

 

[Itachi]

Anyone who actually watched the post match presser would know that Faf wasn't making excuses. He was asked about KG and what he would have done differently and he answered that he would have liked his bowlers rested for the World Cup.

Shouldn't have said that. You don't divulge these type of information to the public.

 

[Executioner]

South Africa had some players who are not good enough anymore - Amla, Duminy and Miller

On the other hand, the likes of De Kock, Du Plessis and KG haven't performed well especially KG and De Kock. De Kock had to play a pivotal role in this world cup. He failed.

 

[jnaveen1980]

De kock had Rohit as the captain. Still couldn’t learn how to win key moments? Same way Faf had Dhoni as the captain. SA team has this collective freeze when they represent their own country in big events. They failed with at on some of the good batting wickets. Why blame Rabada.

 

[Ab Fan]

de Kock has been a massive disappointment himself. 2015 could have been called an excuse for him but he should have stepped up atleast in this WC with the bat and proved his doubters wrong. However, he failed miserably and has followed the footstep of other SA soft cricketers.

Amla had been terrible and should have retired earlier only. It was like just a formality to play the WC for him and them retire.

Miller has proved that he is only good when the platform is well set and he needs to come up and score some 60-70 runs at quick rate. He doesn't have in him to bat up the order and take responsibility.

These three players have been massive disappointment and a major reason for SA's terrible performance in this World Cup.

 

[Mercurial]

Rabada isn't a world class bowler in ODI format in the first place, to be honest.

 

[Hitman]

Why exactly did he still chose to play?

 

[BreadPakoda]

Biggest disappointments have been de Kock and Miller. Amla was already in decline and these two experienced players had to take the team forward but they looked ordinary.

 

[Hyperion66]

Man, Faf is such a crybaby, just man up and accept you are not good enough.

 

[gani999]

I don't follow IPL but if you're saying that Faf played the full IPL, then that's pretty pathetic that he's talking in a press conference how that might have negatively affected Rabada.

With this comment, I think Faf can kiss his IPL contract goodbye now.

 

[Technics 1210]

You guys are not seeing the bigger picture here. Yes playing the IPL resulted in injury for Steyn (massive loss for SA) and over-work for Rabada, but Faf's comments are a dig on ABD (following his silly claim of IPL being bigger than the World Cup!)

 

[MenInG]

In all this hate for Faf - we seem to forget that he showed great moral fortitude by leading a World XI to Pakistan when the rest were trying to score political points

 

[Mamoon]

With this comment, I think Faf can kiss his IPL contract goodbye now.

He is 35 and hasn’t set IPL on fire for years now. His IPL career is coming to a close anyway.

 

[Mamoon]

Certain players and fans need to make peace with IPL and not use it as a scapegoat for their own incompetence.

No ambitious player in the prime of his career is going to pass the opportunity of playing in the IPL, which is a marvelous competition and is played with greater intensity than most bilateral Limited Overs cricket.

It also has the influence to impact Test selection as well, which is what happened in Buttler’s case last year.

 

[the Great Khan]

I think he has a point but this is really the boards fault. Also i have to question the loyalty of the white south africans who all seem to want to go and play in England now that their white priveledge has been taken away from them. I find it pathetic. faf will always be a legend in my eyes because he came to Pakistan. I hope he plays the PSL next year if he can.

 

[barah_admi]

When I see Rabada bowl, I do not see someone who is physically tired, I see someone who is unmotivated and out of ideas...like the rest of the South African team.

 

[nandanraj]

I think he has a point but this is really the boards fault. Also i have to question the loyalty of the white south africans who all seem to want to go and play in England now that their white priveledge has been taken away from them. I find it pathetic. faf will always be a legend in my eyes because he came to Pakistan. I hope he plays the PSL next year if he can.

It’s complicated. How can you blame faf for white privilege.him, abd, Abbott did nothing wrong. Why should they be bereft of opportunities because of their skin color.

 

[the Great Khan]

It’s complicated. How can you blame faf for white privilege.him, abd, Abbott did nothing wrong. Why should they be bereft of opportunities because of their skin color.

Im confused as to your question. i was specifically referring to Kolpak players who are leaving their country because they resent the Quota system. The quota system is there to redress the balance that has been skewed in favour of the white minority. Lets put this into a context you may understand, lets say muslim rulers imposed an apartheid system in india which only ended in 1991. For decades hindus were not allowed to be part of the cricket team. Suddenly a new govt comes in in the 90's , ends apartheid and allows this to finally happen. But the process is slow and Hindu players cant break through because they are generally from poor backgrounds and no infrastructure. Therefore positive discrimination is enforced and you start to see Hindu players finally playing for india.

However seeing that their muslim priviledge is weakening, muslim players decide to stop playing for india and go off to pakistan to play in a more lucrative league and ignore their home country.

how would you feel? especially about those players?

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Sometimes I worry about the future of International cricket. I have a 15 year old cousin who is playing U15 state level. He has no ambitions to even aspire to play international cricket/ test cricket. He looks upto Jos Butler and want to be a T20 globe trotter.

 

[Pakhs]

Why exactly did he still chose to play?

You should know, the easiest question i ever had to answer in my life.. Money! If I was a south african cricketer and paid in rand I would never miss IPL. Cricket is just a game at the end of they day and players do need to make money.

 

[Pakhs]

Certain players and fans need to make peace with IPL and not use it as a scapegoat for their own incompetence.

No ambitious player in the prime of his career is going to pass the opportunity of playing in the IPL, which is a marvelous competition and is played with greater intensity than most bilateral Limited Overs cricket.

It also has the influence to impact Test selection as well, which is what happened in Buttler’s case last year.

Its a marvelous tournament to make easy money for players like Rabada. And if I was in his position i will also do the same.

 

[dhump]

Faf himself played whole IPL, so he needs to set an example first also Indian bowlers played all matches of IPL, and they seem to be going okay.

I think these are just excuses and nothing else.

 

[Titan24]

I can understand Steyn playing IPL as he was on his last legs but seeing Rabada insisting on playing IPL at the age of 24 in the world cup year is definitely questionable.

He can still play a lot of T20 league cricket considering he is young, why would you want to insist on playing and risking it in the WC year which is a dream for any cricketer to play in.

 

[Mamoon]

Its a marvelous tournament to make easy money for players like Rabada. And if I was in his position i will also do the same.

It is also the ideal preparation for a tournament like the World Cup. The expectations, pressure and intensity of IPL play-offs is not replicated in bilaterals.

 

[Titan24]

People talking about Faf playing should realize batsmen and fast bowlers have completely different workloads.

Also about Indian bowlers playing IPL, how easily everyone forgot they got extra days off just because of that while players of other nations didnt enjoy the same privilege. Irrespective of Faf excuse being valid or not, points given by few posters to undermine his comments are definitely not upto the mark.

 

[Mkumar825]

I can understand Steyn playing IPL as he was on his last legs but seeing Rabada insisting on playing IPL at the age of 24 in the world cup year is definitely questionable.

He can still play a lot of T20 league cricket considering he is young, why would you want to insist on playing and risking it in the WC year which is a dream for any cricketer to play in.

One season IPL money > All t20 leauge money in infinite season

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

How can he stop anyone from playing in the IPL, when he himself was playing in it? Looks like Faf is finding excuses for Rabada’s non-performance.

Truth of the matter - SA was a team of geriatrics who had to be dropped eons ago. Plus they are carrying some deadweights bcoz of the quota systems & let go of some great alternatives to Kolpak.

) Exactly

He played in IPL and was trying to stop others is it! Ridiculous ...

 

[Pakhs]

It is also the ideal preparation for a tournament like the World Cup. The expectations, pressure and intensity of IPL play-offs is not replicated in bilaterals.

That didnt happen for Rabada according to FAF unless you know better than someone who has played IPL for number of seasons and won it a few times.

 

[Pakhs]

) Exactly

He played in IPL and was trying to stop others is it! Ridiculous ...

He is a batsman, so I see the point in his argument that it affected rabada the most who really needs that high pace to be effective. But as a captain he should have sacrificed the dollars to make a point.

 

[Mamoon]

That didnt happen for Rabada according to FAF unless you know better than someone who has played IPL for number of seasons and won it a few times.

If it didn’t happen for Rabada it is his and South Africa’s problem, not IPL’s. It happened for Archer and that is why Morgan was praising IPL. Faf is simply fending for excuses.

 

[Pakhs]

If it didn’t happen for Rabada it is his and South Africa’s problem, not IPL’s. It happened for Archer and that is why Morgan was praising IPL. Faf is simply fending for excuses.

Well Rabada played all the games and it still didnt happen for him so its was not ideal preparation for him. Archer played the BBL before IPL which Rabada didnt play maybe he should have played BBL instead like Archer did which made him the bowler he is now and the reason why he was picked for IPL (Money making league).

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

For people who do not how much KG is getting paid for 1 season of IPL is ~ 10 million Rands. This is just club contract fee, he will get bonuses, MoM's, perks, commercial fees and endorsement fee for playing and sporting everything given to him in addition. So i guess he is making minimum of 12-14 million Rands per season for 45 days of IPL.

I hope some Saffer on this forum can confirm if this a life changing amount / not.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Ipl's length should be shortened.

Rabada had the option to not participate in ipl, he himself is responsible for this.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

He is a batsman, so I see the point in his argument that it affected rabada the most who really needs that high pace to be effective. But as a captain he should have sacrificed the dollars to make a point.

This is still better than SA players taking kolpak deal and leaving the nation. IPL has given them financial security and a prolonged career in Sa colors, IPL is just 1.5 months and no one is forced at gun point + lot of them are left out un picked in auction so Faf should not be blaming either KG/ IPL for their team's poor performance. Main reason for their failure is their batters not bowlers.

 

[Mamoon]

Well Rabada played all the games and it still didnt happen for him so its was not ideal preparation for him. Archer played the BBL before IPL which Rabada didnt play maybe he should have played BBL instead like Archer did which made him the bowler he is now and the reason why he was picked for IPL (Money making league).

You should tell Morgan that Archer benefited from BBL more than the IPL, so that he can retract his statement and apologize for crediting IPL instead of BBL.

Having played in both competitions, Morgan is obviously not in a position to assess which competition is better preparation for the World Cup.

 

[Pakhs]

For people who do not how much KG is getting paid for 1 season of IPL is ~ 10 million Rands. This is just club contract fee, he will get bonuses, MoM's, perks, commercial fees and endorsement fee for playing and sporting everything given to him in addition. So i guess he is making minimum of 12-14 million Rands per season for 45 days of IPL.

I hope some Saffer on this forum can confirm if this a life changing amount / not.

I am sure its life changing money and that's why it does not matter if it affects WC preparation or not cant blame the players from playing it. We must not forget cricket at the end of the day is only a game and nobody will sacrifice this kind of money if given the choice.

 

[Pakhs]

You should tell Morgan that Archer benefited from BBL more than the IPL, so that he can retract his statement and apologize for crediting IPL instead of BBL.

Having played in both competitions, Morgan is obviously not in a position to assess which competition is better preparation for the World Cup.

So Morgan a test failure and the one who never got a decent run himself in the IPL know more about the IPL than someone who captains across format and played IPL regularly? Your arguments are not stacking up today usually you do a better Job hope all is okay.

 

[Pakhs]

Ipl's length should be shortened.

Rabada had the option to not participate in ipl, he himself is responsible for this.

Yes you cant balme the IPL at all.. he chose the dollars instead of resting which was needed judging by his pace in the WC. But I wont blame him either most player in his position would have done the same money is hard to refuse specially if you are paid in dollar instead of rand. Losing the WC is not like you lost a war or anything nobody dies.

 

[Mamoon]

So Morgan a test failure and the one who never got a decent run himself in the IPL know more about the IPL than someone who captains across format and played IPL regularly? Your arguments are not stacking up today usually you do a better Job hope all is okay.

What does Test cricket have to do with it? Morgan has played in both competitions in recent years, and he is in a better position to conclude that BBL is nothing compared to the IPL. Faf hasn’t played in BBL since 2012.

Faf is 35 and on the brink of retirement. His IPL future is up in the air as well because he hasn’t performed for a while. No wonder he has chosen a convenient time to blame IPL for his own problems.

 

[Pakhs]

What does Test cricket have to do with it? Morgan has played in both competitions in recent years, and he is in a better position to conclude that BBL is nothing compared to the IPL. Faf hasn’t played in BBL since 2012.

Faf is 35 and on the brink of retirement. His IPL future is up in the air as well because he hasn’t performed for a while. No wonder he has chosen a convenient time to blame IPL for his own problems.

So he said BBL is nothing compared to IPL? Take a rest today arguments are just not making sense. Faf is a better over all player knows more about the IPL and he said the better preparation would have been to skip the IPL you are no-one to say otherwise.

 

[JattMaula]

All of India's and NZ's frontline bowlers played full IPL. Both teams are undefeated.

SA have failed manage Rabada's workload. They have used a Ferrari as an ox cart.

 

[thanuu]

So he said BBL is nothing compared to IPL? Take a rest today arguments are just not making sense. Faf is a better over all player knows more about the IPL and he said the better preparation would have been to skip the IPL you are no-one to say otherwise.

so, RSA's fortunes are solely dependant on KG. KG for God