Faf du Plessis has sought retirement after being captain of South Africa’s Test and T20I sides with immediate effect. The 35-year-old cited has cited providing opportunities to next generation of leaders within the team a chance to develop.
Quinton de Kock was named stand-in captain for the ODI series against England, with du Plessis being rested.
Graeme Smith, South Africa’s director of cricket, had then confirmed that the management was looking at de Kock as the permanent captain.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) released the following quote of Du Plessis, “This was one of the toughest decisions to make, but I remain fully committed to supporting Quinton, Mark [Boucher] and my team-mates as we continue to rebuild and re-align as a group”
He reiterates, “South African cricket has entered a new era. New leadership, new faces, new challenges and new strategies. I remain committed to playing in all three formats of the game for now as a player and will offer my knowledge and time to the new leaders of the team.”
For a while, now South Africa has been looking at de Kock as their next captain across formats, especially T20Is, with an eye on the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. South Africa lost the recently concluded series against England, in which de Kock captained, 2-1 but there were plenty of positives for the side.
South Africa next host Australia for three T20Is, starting on Friday, followed by three ODIs.
