Quinton de Kock’s return to the Proteas’ ODI squad began with a midnight call to coach Shukri Conrad.

The 32-year-old, who retired from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup and stepped away from T20Is after last year’s global showpiece, is back in the white-ball squads for next month’s series in Pakistan.

De Kock had already walked away from Test cricket in 2021, but the lure of pulling on the Proteas shirt again proved too strong.

“In the middle of the night in Darwin, my phone rang,” Conrad said. “It was Quinny, and we chatted for a bit. I told him I’d get back to him in a couple of days, spoke to a few people, and the rest is history.”

The wicketkeeper-batsman has kept himself busy with the SA20 and franchise leagues around the world, but Conrad insists no promises have been made about a World Cup place.

“It’s great to have him back on board and he’s expressed a desire to play for South Africa again in both white-ball formats,” the coach explained. “There are no guarantees regarding World Cups, but this Pakistan tour gives him the chance to show what he can do. If everything adds up, he can stake a massive claim.”

With Temba Bavuma sidelined by injury, De Kock’s return comes at a good time.

“He said he had a lot to offer and that he missed playing for South Africa,” said Conrad. “When someone of Quinny’s calibre expresses that desire, there are no strings attached — we just want him out there making a difference.”

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Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP