EXCLUSIVE | Linde unclear of his position in the Proteas' pecking order after being dropped

Proteas spin-bowling all-rounder George Linde has revealed that he doesn’t know where he is in the pecking order after being dropped from the T20I squad.

It was not too long ago when head coach Shukri Conrad told the media that Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, and Nqaba Peter were the three frontline spinners for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

After two series, things have changed as only Muthusamy has been able to keep his spot in the T20I team, having been included in the squad for the England tour alongside Keshav Maharaj, who has been recalled for the first time in the shortest format under Conrad.

On the other hand, Linde and Peter have been excluded.

Linde told Independent Media that he is still in the dark regarding his position in the T20I squad, as he has yet to have a conversation with Conrad.

“To be fair, I've got no idea. I haven't chatted to him yet. In terms of where I'm at now in the pecking order, I've got no idea, and it is what it is,” Linde said. 

“Things were promised to me, and I don't know, we’ll see if it's still true or not, but hopefully I'll get back and play for (the country) again. But if not, then that is how it is

“We’ll see in March or in February if I'll be on that plane or not. If not, then it is what it is. I can't change the coach's mind. Yes, he's still a good coach and everything and gets the best out of all the players.”

Linde opened up about his own performances in Zimbabwe and Australia recently, expressing disappointment with his bowling performances.

“I was disappointed with the ball. I was okay with the bat, I think, except in Australia. But as a cricketer, sometimes you are going to go through a little dip. But at least my form is back again after The Hundred," he said.

“So yes, I'm not too concerned about my form or anything. I'm still very confident with my bowling and batting. But I guess everyone is allowed to have a bad tournament or a series or whatever, and I wouldn't look too deep into that.”

Having been dropped in the past, Linde refuses to find himself in the trap he once found himself in, where he had a deep desire to prove himself to people.

The 33-year-old refuses to find himself in a position where he doesn't want to play the game anymore, like he felt when he was dropped about four years ago.

Instead, the all-rounder is focused on representing Western Province here at home and playing in leagues around the world, just as he has done recently in The Hundred, where he represented the Trent Rockets.

“When I got dropped (the first time), I didn't really expect it, but during that time, I didn't know how to deal with being dropped. My career obviously took a proper U-turn mentally. I was over cricket, honestly. I didn’t want to play cricket anymore.

“The main thing is to try and stay in the leagues because I feel like they value you as a player. Also, Western Province, which is my main team, all I want to do for them is to do well and win trophies.”

Having suffered a broken finger during the final of The Hundred in the UK, the all-rounder is set to be out for four to six weeks and expects to return for the first or second Cricket South Africa Four-Day Series match for Western Province.