[ad_1]
AB de Villiers He again expressed his desire to return to international cricket, further fueling speculation that “Mr 360” fans will see him on the Proteas green and gold as soon as cricket resumes.
Speaking to SuperSport commentator Pop it Mbangwa On Instagram Live, De Villiers answered a question from one of the thousands of fans who wondered if he would return to play for South Africa if he was selected for the T20 World Cup (scheduled for October this year in Australia).
He reiterated again that he was in conversation with Proteas head coach Mark Boucher and cricket director for Cricket South Africa (CSA) Graeme Smith. De Villiers is understood to be very close to the pair, with whom he played in the past.
“I would love to play [for the Proteas] but he’s very unsure right now where we are going with cricket around the world, “said de Villiers.
“I have spoken to ‘Bouch’ and ‘Smithy’ and to all of them, and the urgency is there. I desperately want to represent my country again.
“[But] I can’t commit to that because I don’t know where I’m going. Will i be fit if [the T20 World Cup] happens in 2021? Am I still going to be in shape?
“If I commit to something like that, I’d like to think I’m going to be in the best shape of my life, to be able to hit and score runs for my country.”
“There are a lot of factors that I can’t control right now, so I take it one day at a time and, knocking on wood, everything will be fine.”
De Villiers also recently told the Afrikaans weekly Rapport that he “feels available” but was cautious in committing himself to retirement entirely
The former Proteas captain retired sensationally from international cricket in 2018 citing a variety of personal reasons, but made a twist before last year’s 50-plus World Cup squad was announced.
The latest move received widespread criticism and condemnation, with some blaming Proteas’ lackluster performances in Britain last year to continued disruptions in the camp.
However, De Villiers, now 36, enjoys a massive following of people who would love to see him play for South Africa again.
In 78 international T20 matches, De Villiers averaged 26.12 and ended his career at the time with a maximum score of 79, not out against Scotland at The Oval in 2009 during that year’s T20 World Cup. He also maintained a batting career average of 50 or higher at Pruebas and One Day Internationals.
“Playing for my country was never a right; it was the greatest privilege of my life,” he said.
“It is not something that you get and it has never belonged to me. I did something that I love and it was always deeper than playing cricket. It was a battle for South Africa.”
– Compiled by Sibusiso Mjikeliso
