South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis looks set to commit himself to the Proteas Champions Trophy squad.
Despite not playing a one-day international for South Africa in over a year, veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis looks ready to make himself available for the Champions Trophy in June.
Kallis has not played an ODI since February 2012 and no longer features in the shorter forms of the game at international level.
However, the 37-year-old has played in ICC tournaments such as the World Twenty20 last September – which South Africa went out of at the Super Eight stage.
After the current ODI series against Pakistan concluded on Sunday, coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that he had been in talks with Kallis about a return.
“Jacques Kallis is not going to play one-day cricket anymore because we value him in Test matches too much, but we reserve the right to call him up in certain tournaments,” Kirsten was quoted on ESPNcricinfo.
“The Champions Trophy is the last major tournament before the World Cup and I am excited that he may make himself available for that.”
Kallis would probably love to add a World Cup medal to his trophy cabinet as he has never won the tournament. Although the next World Cup is two years away playing in the Champions Trophy would be the perfect way to prepare, if the all-rounder avoids injury.
The South African has already won the Champions Trophy once with his side in 1998 and probably wouldn’t mind adding another title to his list.
Kallis’ talent with both bat and ball meant there were essentially two gaps left in the Proteas side when he retired from the shorter formats.
A return from the all-rounder in ODIs, however brief that may be, would almost certainly be welcomed by South Africa fans.
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