"I don't know, to be dead honest", says Walter on Quinton De Kock's T20I future

South Africas whiteball head coach Rob Walter stated that he does not know anything about star batsman Quinton de Kocks T20I future He further stated that the veteran is left with an open door to take decision on his T20I futureQuinton de Kock announced his retirement from Test cricket back in the year 2021 He later decided to call it a day from ODIs as well after having a stunning ODI World Cup 2023 in India In that World Cup Quinton de Kock scored four centuries and helped South Africa to reach the semifinalsAfter playing some fine knocks in Proteas runnersup finish to India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign the lefthander missed three T20Is against West Indies last month and will also not feature in the two matches against Ireland this monthLater the Proteas will lock horns with Team India for four T20I in order to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka Quinton de Kock also does not have a central contractAsked about De Kocks availability for the Ireland series from September 27 onwards Walter said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo I do not know to be dead honest For the next little while there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again I have left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that That might never happenAlso ReadParis Paralympics 2024 A look at Indias best campaign everQuinton de Kock has always been a crucial player for South Africas T20I team and was the leading runscorer in the T20 World Cup 2024 With 243 runs in nine innings at an average of 2700 with two halfcenturies and the best score of 74 He is also the sides top rungetter in T20Is with 2584 runs in 92 matches at an average of 3151 and a strike rate of 13832 with a century and 16 fifties His best score is 100Since the T20 WC final which was De Kocks last international appearance he has played in several T20 leagues such as Major League Cricket MLC in the USA and Caribbean Premier League CPL and will also be featuring in SA20 season three and the Indian Premier League IPLWalter highlighted that despite his accolades and experience with South Africa his place in the side is not guaranteed and performance will be a parameterThere might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected he said We have to just allow him to have his space to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do What will become more and more important is performance He is not exactly old de Kock is 31 so from here on in it is a performancebased conversation he concludedProteas whiteball head coach Rob Walter announced the squads for their whiteball tour of the UAE starting with the ODI series against Afghanistan followed by T20Is and ODIs against IrelandThe ODI squad set to face Afghanistan will depart for the UAE on Saturday 14 September in preparation for the series opener on 18 SeptemberSouth Africa ODI squad against Afghanistan Temba Bavuma captain Ottneil Baartman Nandre Burger Tony de Zorzi Bjorn Fortuin Reeza Hendricks Aiden Markram Wiaan Mulder Lungi Ngidi Andile Phehlukwayo Nqaba Peter Andile Simelane Jason Smith Tristan Stubbs Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa T20I squad against Ireland Aiden Markram captain Ottneil Baartman Matthew Breetzke Nandre Burger Bjorn Fortuin Reeza Hendricks Patrick Kruger Wiaan Mulder Lungi Ngidi Nqaba Peter Ryan Rickelton Andile Simelane Jason Smith Tristan Stubbs and Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa ODI squad against Ireland Temba Bavuma captain Ottneil Baartman Nandre Burger Tony de Zorzi Bjorn Fortuin Wiaan Mulder Lungi Ngidi Andile Phehlukwayo Nqaba Peter Ryan Rickelton Jason Smith Tristan Stubbs Rassie van der Dussen Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad WilliamsWith ANI Inputs