The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are sweating over the availability of South African players for the 2021 edition of the tournament.

As per a report published in Cricbuzz, at least a couple of teams have officially raised the issue with the BCCI after Cricket South Africa (CSA) recently released the schedule of a white-ball series against Pakistan in April.

Seven Proteas players are in the list of five IPL franchises but Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings have a couple of players each and they could be the worst affected if the South Africans don’t turn up.

According to Cricbuzz, the Capitals could lose the players for “two games or for two weeks” but the exact duration will depend on the venue and the quarantine requirement for the South African players.

The same report also says that BCCI has assured the Capitals that it will speak with Cricket South Africa (CSA) in this regard.

Both Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje were the key members of the side last season as the Capitals reached the final for the first-time ever. While Rabada claimed 30 wickets from 17 matches, Nortje picked up 22 scalps in 16 games.

In all probability, Delhi might miss the services of Rabada and Nortje for the first few games as the duo will be playing a seven-match series against Pakistan – three ODIs and four T20Is – scheduled between April 2 and 16. The IPL 2021 is tentatively scheduled to start on April 9 to 10.

Besides Rabada and Nortje, Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians), David Miller (Rajasthan Royals) and AB de Villiers (Royals Challengers Bangalore) are the other South Africans retained by the franchises.

Chris Morris, Van der Dussen, Wayne Parnell, Beuran Hendricks, Hardus Viljoen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Daryn Dupavillon, Morne Morkel, George Linde, Dwaine Pretorius, David Wiese, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Jacques Snyman are the 14 Proteas cricketers who are set to feature in the min-auction on February 18.

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)