AB de Villiers retirement: The former South Africa captain won’t make an international comeback for the two looming T20 World Cups.
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CSA (Cricket South Africa) has quashed all reports of an international comeback for former captain AB de Villiers stating that the 37-year old player considers his retirement to be “final”.
It was in 2018 that de Villiers had decided to hang his boots from international cricket to surprise the cricketing fraternity around the globe. Next year, there were reports of him speaking to childhood friend and the then South Africa captain Faf du Plessis to make a comeback in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
However, de Villiers had himself issued a clarification putting to rest all the speculations after the culmination of South Africa’s disappointing World Cup campaign in England.
AB de Villiers retirement will remain “final”
Despite the same, reports continued to emerge around his international comeback. de Villiers, who had been scoring plentiful runs in T20 leagues post retirement, was expected to don the national colours especially with a couple of ICC T20 World Cups to be played.
What added fuel to fire was official statements from South Africa head coach Mark Boucher giving a deadline for de Villiers’ comeback and de Villiers himself opening up on wanting to make a difference at the highest level. Having said that, none of the it appears to be relevant now.
While de Villiers hasn’t spoken on the matter as of now, CSA has ruled out his international comeback via an official statement. “Discussions with AB de Villiers have concluded with the batsman deciding once and for all, that his retirement will remain final,” CSA said in a statement after announcing their squads for the upcoming tours of West Indies and Ireland.
AB de Villiers finalises international retirement.
Discussions with AB de Villiers have concluded with the batsman deciding once and for all, that his retirement will remain final. pic.twitter.com/D3UDmaDAS2
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) May 18, 2021
In 79 T20 innings since his retirement, de Villiers has amassed 2,669 runs at an average and strike rate of 45.24 and 157.28 respectively including one century and 24 half-centuries in Mzansi Super League, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League, T20 Blast and Big Bash League.
