AB de Villiers urges sports teams to take up the ‘Handshake challenge

Former South African Captain AB de Villiers has urged all the sports teams to take up the handshake challenge as a mark of respect for the opposition.

When ABD recently called a day on his career, he was on the brink of 10000 ODI runs. With this performance he ended as surely one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game.

However, what explains him better is that he is a cricketer who is widely respected as a human being and this is the greatest that one can achieve in any field.

There have been several cricketers or sportsmen who have made a mark in their particular field but being a good human being is the priority and the thing that stands out.

Following the recent controversies that have marred the image of the gentleman’s game, AB de Villiers has come up with a handshake challenge in which he has urged all the men and women playing sports in to shake hands with the opponents as a mark of respect.

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“My challenge to all individuals and teams competing in Sport.. Respect in Sport Pledge: As sportsmen/women we realize the importance and responsibilities we have as role models to make a difference. We embrace our role in society and commit to use sport to change lives and to inspire people to be Champions in life.”

“We shake hands before and after matches as a sign of Respect to our opponents and to challenge them to be at their best. We commit to play hard and tough but within the rules of our Sport. We all support the Handshake Challenge and lets all play our role to make this a better world,” the great man mentioned.

It is ironic that the upheaval that took the entire cricketing fraternity in its wake started in South Africa in the third test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands. The ball tampering controversy had a huge impact on the game and jeopardised the careers of a few big names in its aftermath.