Johannesburg, April 6: The Indian Premier League (IPL) will have to take a backseat, for a change, as South Africa's star players will turn out for their franchises in the semi-finals and final of the Standard Bank Pro20, their domestic Twenty20 tournament, which clashes with the lucrative Indian version.

Although South Africa's third and final Test in Kanpur ends just three days before the start of the league April 18, the Test players will have to fly back home if their franchise is involved in the local knockout phase, The Times newspaper of South Africa has reported.

Cricket South Africa's chief executive Gerald Majola said the contracts with players specified they had to be available for their franchises when not required by the national side. "We gave them permission to sign for IPL but only on condition that their franchises had priority," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

Cape Cobras players Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince have signed for Indian teams and chief executive Andre Odendaal expects them to play if the Cobras reach the semi-finals.

Titans also said they expect Dale Steyn and A.B. de Villiers to be available for the semi-finals if they are involved. Morne Morkel has opted not to play in the Indian league this year.

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