The BCCI released the revised schedule for the IPL 2025 season on Monday (May 12). The tournament was suspended last week owing to India-Pakistan tensions at the border.

A ceasefire was announced on Saturday (May 10), and hence, the organizers took the call to restart the cash-rich league on May 17 with the RCB versus KKR clash at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The final will now be played on June 3.

However, the rescheduling has put South Africa’s WTC final-bound players’ participation in the remainder of the IPL in jeopardy.

South Africa will face Australia in the World Test Championship 2025 final at Lord’s from June 11 to 15.

With less than a month left for the marquee game, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has demanded its players, including eight members selected for the WTC final, to return from the IPL 2025 by May 26.

This requirement affects 20 Proteas players currently featuring in the IPL, with ongoing negotiations between CSA and the Indian board.

South African men's head coach, Shukri Conrad, addressed the situation on Tuesday (May 13), stating: "The initial agreement with the IPL and the BCCI was with the final being on the 25th, our players would return on the 26th so that it allows them ample time before we fly out on the 30th. Nothing has changed from our perspective. That is the ongoing conversations that are being had between people in a higher pay grade than I am, i.e. the Director of Cricket (Enoch Nkwe) and Pholetsi Mosek (CSA CEO), so they're dealing with that. But as it stands, we're not budging on that, I don't think. We want our players back on the 26th, and hopefully that comes to fruition."

The eight players picked in the WTC final squad include Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, and Tristan Stubbs, representing several IPL teams.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, CSA’s Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe said that discussions with IPL and BCCI are still ongoing.

The selected players are due to assemble in Arundel, England, on May 31, with a warm-up match against Zimbabwe planned for June 3-6 before heading to London for the WTC final.

The rearranged IPL playoffs will now coincide with the three-match ODI series between England and West Indies, starting May 29. The remaining two ODIs will be played on June 1 and 3, respectively.

Qualifier 1 and Eliminator of the IPL 2025 season will be played on May 29 and 30, respectively, while Qualifier 2 will take place on June 1.

Hence, the participation of Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) in the IPL playoffs is also in limbo.