Rilee Rossouw wants to represent his country again but says he has not been contacted by the Proteas selectors.
The 32-year-old last played for the Proteas in 2016, having left South African cricket in 2017 after signing a three-year Kolpak deal with Hampshire that made him ineligible for national selection.
Then Proteas coach Russell Domingo slammed Rossouw, who he had backed following four ducks in his first six ODI innings.
Rossouw went on to become a Proteas ODI regular, scoring 1,239 runs in 36 matches at an average of 38.71. He hit three centuries and seven fifties.
In his last ODI series, against Australia in South Africa, he made 311 runs at an average of 77.75, including 122 in his last innings.
He also played in 15 T20Is but was not picked for the Test team.
Rossouw is currently the leading run-scorer in England’s T20 Blast tournament with 278 for Somerset at an average of 92.66 and a strike rate of 191.72.
In last year’s CSA T20 Knock Out, he scored 295 runs at an average of 98.33 and a strike rate of 157.75, including a century and two fifties, to help the Free State Knights win the tournament.
Kolpak deals are now a thing of the past due to Brexit and with Rossouw back in the South African domestic system, he is eligible for Proteas selection again. However, his desire to play in lucrative T20 franchise tournaments like the Pakistan Super League and T20 Blast could count against him.
“I would like to play for South Africa again,” he told Rapport newspaper. “If we can just agree there is no difference when it comes to overseas participation. In rugby, a player is selected for South Africa even if he only plays overseas [but not in cricket]. I do not agree [that playing overseas should prevent a player from representing his country].”
He says the Proteas selectors have yet to contact him.
“I am now 100% better as a player than in 2016,” Rossouw added. “I have rubbed shoulders with the best players in the world in white-ball cricket.”
Rossouw told Rapport it’s a matter of time before he signs for the Knights for next season and that he also plans to play in South Africa’s new T20 franchise tournament.
