Head coach Mark Boucher has effectively set a deadline for batsman AB de Villiers, who recently expressed interest in returning to the Proteas’ T20I squad.

De Villiers suggested coming out of international retirement earlier this year in an attempt to be selected for South Africa’s squad for the T20 World Cup.

Boucher then noted a willingness to accommodate De Villiers’ return and this week insisted availability must be made known after the Indian Premier League.

De Villiers will play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 IPL, which will end on 24 May. A week later, Boucher wants to know if De Villiers and others – including all-rounder Chris Morris and leg-spinner Imran Tahir – are available for national selection.

Morris recently played for the Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League, while Tahir is currently with the Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League. Like De Villiers, both will compete in the 2020 IPL.

‘The big one is the IPL, so we decided to let those guys do the IPL and then afterwards make themselves available,’ said Boucher.

‘From 1 June, which is the Sri Lanka tour, those guys need to make themselves available. Whether we select them is another story.

‘But they need to make themselves available if they want to put their hands up for a T20 World Cup spot.’

The T20 World Cup will run from 18 October to 15 November 2020. South Africa have been pooled with England, India, Afghanistan and two qualifying teams for the tournament.

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