South Africa remains in doubt regarding Quinton de Kock's future availability for T20 internationals, as he has now missed two consecutive series following the T20 World Cup.
Though de Kock, no longer under a national contract, has not officially retired from all forms of international cricket, he skipped the three T20s against the West Indies last month and will sit out the upcoming two-match series against Ireland. South Africa is also scheduled to face India in four T20Is at home in November as part of their preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
When asked about de Kock’s availability, South Africa's white-ball coach, Rob Walter, admitted there was no immediate clarity. He explained that discussions with de Kock have been left open-ended, allowing the player to reach out if and when he chooses to return. "To be honest, I don't know. There won't be any discussions between me and Quinny in the near future regarding his return to play for South Africa," Walter said. "I've made it clear the door is open if he wants to have that conversation. But that may never happen."
De Kock stepped away from Test cricket in 2021 and retired from ODIs after the 2023 Cricket World Cup. At the time, Walter revealed that de Kock had initially planned to leave all international cricket but was persuaded to remain for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He was allowed to skip a bilateral series to participate in the Big Bash League, a shift from South Africa's traditional selection approach, which requires players to be involved in international fixtures ahead of major tournaments. This policy change paid off, as de Kock became South Africa’s highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, helping the team reach the final.
Since the T20 World Cup, de Kock has played in various leagues, including Major League Cricket and the Caribbean Premier League, and is set to feature in SA20 and the IPL, which maintains his eligibility for South Africa. However, Walter stated that de Kock’s selection will be based on performance, saying, "Even if we have that conversation, it doesn’t automatically mean he will be selected. He has to perform, and moving forward, that’s what matters most. He’s only 31, so it’s a performance-based conversation."
There is no set timeline for de Kock to make a final decision, and South Africa has continued to explore other options, including Reeza Hendricks as an opener and Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton, and Heinrich Klaasen as potential wicketkeepers. Currently, only Klaasen is unavailable due to personal reasons, having pulled out of the CPL. Walter confirmed that once Klaasen’s family matters are resolved, he will rejoin the squad.