Shoaib Akhtar slams de Villiers: Former Pakistani fast bowler severely criticized former South African batsman recently.
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The recent news of former South Africa captain AB de Villiers wanting to take part in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 hasn’t gone down well with some section of the cricketing fraternity.
It is believed that de Villiers had expressed desires of playing the tournament a day before South Africa’s team was to be selected. However, it was Cricket South Africa and the team management who refused de Villiers’ request of coming out of retirement.
Shoaib Akhtar slams de Villiers
de Villiers had retired from international cricket last year. He still continues to play in T20 league across the world. Among the former cricketers who objected de Villiers’ desire to play the World Cup again was former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’, the 43-year uploaded a video on his official YouTube channel, criticizing de Villiers issuing such statements. “Recently AB de Villiers announced that he wants to play for South Africa in the World Cup. This is big news but why is he issuing such statements when South Africa are down and out,” Akhtar was quoted as saying.
“De Villiers chose IPL and PSL over South Africa”
Laying emphasis on the financial gain from playing in T20 leagues, Akhtar accused de Villiers of putting money over playing for his country. “Firstly, people must not forget that there was pressure on AB de Villiers to leave IPL and PSL contracts and make himself available for the World Cup.
“However, he chose the IPL and PSL, announced an early retirement and recused himself from the World Cup. So basically everything started with finance. I think when he took this decision, he did it looking at his finances and economics.
“I don’t mind people making money but do it in the right way. If you indeed have to make money then pick and chose correctly but keep your country as the priority. Now to clear your name you made a last-ditch offer to come out of international retirement for this summer’s World Cup. But I think the management was correct in their stand,” Akhtar said.
“You wanted to loot the whole mela“
After backing the South African team management, Akhtar also suggested de Villiers to stand tall on morale grounds. “Now I think, you wanted to loot the whole mela and become breaking news by coming out into the team but that is not right.
“Jab aapne faisla kar liya hai tab banda mard ka baccha banta hai aur mard ka baccha tab banta hai jab paise chor deta hai (Be a man and stick to your decision and that is only possible once you let go of the lure of money),” Akhtar concluded.
