UPDATE: Proteas confirm AB’s World Cup offer was turned down
Selection chief Linda Zondi clears the air, stating that there's no regret over the decision team management made.
AB de Villiers. Photo: Thinus Maritz/Gallo Images.
As the Proteas reel from a hat-trick of losses at the World Cup, an explosive report that claims AB de Villiers was willing to come out of retirement for one final crack at the elusive trophy has been confirmed.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the legendary 35-year-old batsman offered his services in the nick of time before Cricket South Africa had to submit its squad to the International Cricket Council.
De Villiers contacted current skipper Faf du Plessis, coach Ottis Gibson and selection convener Linda Zondi 24 hours before the deadline to “express his desire to reverse his retirement”.
Zondi confirmed the approach.
“For Faf du Plessis and Ottis Gibson to share AB’s desire to be included in the squad on the day we announced our World Cup squad on April 18th was a shock to all of us,” he said in a statement.
“It was no option when I received the news on the day of the squad announcement, our squad was finalised and confirmed. AB is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, but above all else, we have to stay true to our morals and principles, there is no regret in the decision.”
The authoritative specialist website had accurately reported that his request “wasn’t considered” because of two reservations.
Firstly, De Villiers didn’t fulfill CSA’s selection criteria, which entails that he needed to play domestic or international cricket on local shores.
“I did give him the option to plan and monitor his season to get him to the World Cup fresh and in a good space. We made it clear that he would have to play during the home tours against Sri Lanka and Pakistan to be considered for selection, instead he signed to play in the Pakistan and Bangladesh Premier Leagues respectively. He turned down the offer and said he was at peace with his decision to retire,” said Zondi.
The timing of his retirement – exactly a year before the tournament – was also a problem, while it was also felt that his potential inclusion would be unfair on other players such as Rassie van der Dussen, who averages 66 since making his debut earlier this year.
“We had a year to find players at franchise level to fill the gap. We had players who put in the hard work, who put up their hands and deserved to be given the opportunity to go to the World Cup. The decision was based on principle; we had to be fair to the team, the selection panel, our franchise system and players,” Zondi added.
To be fair, De Villiers’ signals have been mixed.
Before last year’s Mzansi Super League, he empahtically stated: “There’s no comeback I certainly don’t want to confuse anyone around the cricketing world and especially not the Proteas. It would be very selfish and arrogant of me to throw around statements that I’m still keen to play a World Cup. No-one is that good that they can just walk back into a national team.”
However, during an interview in Indian television last month, he seemed to change his tune to an extent.
“I was keen to play in the World Cup, but I left, I retired,” said De Villiers.
“It was a very sensitive situation. For the last three years of my career, I was labelled as a guy who is picking and choosing when I was playing and when not. So I got quite a lot of criticism from back home, which also played a role in me retiring.
“And it was difficult for me to then go ‘Hey, but I’ll still play the World Cup’. It’s that picking and choosing thing again, and it’s quite arrogant to do something like that. But as they say, you can’t have your bread buttered on both sides.”
What is undeniable is that given the Proteas’ current batting woes, the presence of one of their greatest players ever would’ve been of huge value.
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