OPINION: The fuss about Faf must reach finality

Another Twenty20 tournament, this time the IPL — again, and more noise about Faf du Plessis being a must for the Proteas team.

It’s predictable and inevitable, but also tiring and boring.

There is no doubt Du Plessis is a star cricketer and an excellent T20 player, a big asset to any team he plays for — but that is not up for debate.

Du Plessis, even though 38 years old, is still on top of his game and is certainly good enough to play for his country.

IPL form

For the record, Du Plessis is again starring in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. So far this season, in three matches Du Plessis has scored 175 runs with a best of 79 not out at an average of 87 and with a strike rate of 173.

Last year in the IPL he scored 468 runs at 31 with a highest score of 96 and strike rate of 128. In 2021 he made 633 runs at 45, with a highest score of 95 not out and strike rate of 138.

And how can we forget how well Du Plessis performed in the inaugural SA20 earlier this year: Second highest run scorer with 369 runs at an average of 41.

Time to make a call

But, is there place for Du Plessis in a Proteas T20 team, and does he see eye to eye with the coach, the players and the administrators at CSA? Those are the issues that need to be sorted out.

Most crucially though, if CSA and the Proteas do not feel they will benefit by having Du Plessis in the team then all the talk of a potential return must be ended as soon as possible.

Heck, even Du Plessis himself must be sick and tired of hearing about why he should make a Proteas return, and questions being asked about his availability, and whether he wants to play for South Africa or not.

I really think the time has come for Du Plessis to either be picked for the Proteas T20 side ahead of the T20 World Cup in June next year and put all the rumours and talk to bed, or he must come out and say enough of the speculation and uncertainty, and announce his retirement from all international cricket.

Because, it’s just silly to carry on about how good a player Du Plessis is, T20 competition after T20 competition, and then nothing come of it with respect to a national call-up. It’s time now to put everyone out of their misery.