CAPE TOWN: South Africa cricket AB de Villiers has confirmed that he is in talks with the team management about a potential return to international cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
New South Africa coach Mark Boucher first touted the possibility of getting de Villiers on board for the tournament a few days after taking over his role in December. Captain Faf du Plessis later confirmed that the management was in talks with the cricketer.
After his first Big Bash League game with Brisbane Heat, de Villiers himself confirmed that he is in talks about a potential return, while maintaining that a lot of variables will need to fall in place, not least him maintaining his own form.
“There’s a lot that needs to happen before that becomes reality, I would love to,” de Villers said after making a fine 32-ball 40 in Brisbane’s win over Adelaide Strikers.
“I’ve been talking to Bouch, Graeme Smith and Faf back home. We are all keen to make it happen, it’s a long way away still and plenty can happen – there’s the IPL coming, I’ve still got to be in form at that time. I’m thinking of throwing my name in the hat and hoping everything will work out.
“It’s not a guarantee, I don’t want to disappoint myself or other people, so for now I’m just going to try and keep a low profile, play the best possible cricket I can and we’ll see what happens towards the end of the year.”
De Villiers last played for South Africa in March 2018. His team’s convincing Test series victory against Australia being his last assignment before he announced his decision to hang up his boots from all formats.
Maintaining his form in the absence of international cricket has been no problem for de Villiers, as he keeps finishing as among the top run-scorers in various T20 leagues. His start in the Big Bash League has shown that de Villiers is very much in form, and will hope to continue that going into the 2020 IPL.
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