"It was a process of what does the next year look like in terms of T20 cricket," said Du Plessis. "How many games, where, when, what? And then try to unfold that in a way that he can come back. "He's keen to come back. I don't know when. "In an ideal world, we would like to make sure we can play our best 11, 12, 13 players for a few games or in a few series leading up to a T20 World Cup." Du Plessis said he did not want a repeat of what he said happened ahead of last year's 50-overs World Cup when combinations were not settled before the tournament.

"There was a search to find the players and the combinations. I would like to settle into that combination a little earlier so the guys can play as many games as possible together," he said. De Villiers is currently playing in Australia's Big Bash League, which ends on February 8, and is committed to playing in the Indian Premier League from March 29 to May 24.

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South Africa have three T20 international series ahead of the World Cup in October and November. They play three home matches against England from February 12, followed immediately by three against Australia. They are also scheduled to play a five-match T20 series in the West Indies in August.

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