Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from one-day internationals and been recalled to the South Africa squad for their white-ball tour of Pakistan starting next month.
The 32-year-old retired from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup in India and has not represented the Proteas in any format since the T20 World Cup final in June 2024. While he never officially retired from T20 internationals, De Kock—who stepped away from Test cricket in 2021—was not offered a central contract last year, casting doubt over his international future.
His return comes at a crucial time, with the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on the horizon, and the 2027 ODI World Cup, which South Africa will co-host. It is also seen as a welcome boost for international cricket at large, as franchise leagues continue to lure players away from national duty.
South Africa recently lost Heinrich Klaasen, one of the world’s leading T20 batters, who retired from international cricket in June. Against that backdrop, De Kock’s comeback is a timely reinforcement.
“Quinton’s return to the white-ball space is a major boost for us,” said head coach Shukri Conrad. “When we spoke last month about his future, it was clear he still has a strong ambition to represent his country. Everyone knows the quality he brings to the side, and having him back can only benefit the team.”
So far this year, De Kock has featured exclusively in franchise cricket, appearing in the SA20, the Indian Premier League, Major League Cricket, and the Caribbean Premier League. Despite his absence from the Proteas setup, his pedigree is unquestioned: since his debut in 2013, only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have scored more ODI centuries than his 21, while he was South Africa’s top run-scorer at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
South Africa’s upcoming tour of Pakistan begins on 12 October, comprising two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20s. Injured captain Temba Bavuma will miss the Test series—the first since the Proteas’ World Test Championship triumph in June—leaving Aiden Markram to lead in his absence.
