South African players Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher might be good enough for the Bangalore IPL franchise to justify paying almost US$1.5 million for them, but they are not good enough to make their domestic Twenty20 squad. Both are therefore staying in India and not returning home with the rest of the South African Test squad.
Both players, as well as Ashwell Prince, represent the Cape Cobras in the Standard Bank Pro20 tournament in South Africa. Shukri Conrad, the Cobras' coach and convenor of selectors, chose to include Graeme Smith and JP Duminy from the six nationally-contracted players but could find no place in his team for Prince and seamer Monde Zondeki as well. Smith and Duminy replace promising youngsters Richard Levi and Stiaan van Zyl.
A statement from the Cobras said that Kallis, Boucher and Prince were now "free to stay on in India to participate in the new IPL league if Cricket South Africa (CSA) gives them the go ahead."