Boucher explains why AB de Villiers turned down SA return
Collected
|| CF DESK ||
Brevis blitz dims Kolkata's IPL playoff hopes
8 May 25
Fans of AB de Villiers got disappointing news when Cricket South Africa declared that the former South Africa captain will be staying retired. After announcing his retirement from international cricket in 2018, rumors have circulated that de Villiers would make a comeback for the T20 World Cup later this year. In fact, South Africa's coach, Mark Boucher, has intimated that de Villiers may be a contender for the ICC tournament on multiple occasions.
However, Boucher has explained why de Villiers would remain retired, a day after CSA delivered the news. Recognizing that de Villiers is still the top T20 player in the world, Boucher described the development as regrettable but understood de Villiers' point of view.
"AB has his reasons, which I respect. Unfortunately, he’s no longer in the mix. I say unfortunately because I think we all agree that he’s still one of the best if not the best T20 players in world cricket," Boucher told The Citizen.
"But he alluded to being concerned about coming in ahead of other players who have been a part of the system. I don’t think it sat well with him, which I understand" he added.
‘Bangladeshi fans might not like me saying this but Bangladesh won’t make the knockouts’, says AB de Villiers
15 Feb 25
It was during the 2019 World Cup that the idea of de Villiers' potential return first floated. In a staggering revelation, former SA captain Faf du Plessis had announced that de Villiers had offered to come out of retirement but his request was turned down keeping the hard work of other players in mind.
South Africa performed awfully in the 2019 WC, becoming the second team after Afghanistan to be knocked out. With a fresh World Cup awaiting, Boucher feels it is best everyone moved on from the de Villiers saga.
"As a coach I needed to try and get our best players, for the team and the environment. AB is an energy-booster in any environment, but I respect his reasoning. It was worth a go, but now let’s move forward," Boucher pointed out.
