Former South African captain AB de Villiers had reportedly made an offer to come out of international retirement and play ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. But his offer was rejected by the South Africa team management on the eve of their final squad announcement.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the offer was made in May, just 24 hours before South Africa’s selectors unveiled their final 15-man squad for the World Cup.
South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis, head coach Ottis Gibson and convenor of selectors Linda Zondi were among those who were believed to be approached by the former Proteas’ skipper AB de Villiers, expressing his desire to reverse his retirement, but was told that this would not be possible.
There are two main reasons that led rejection of de Villiers’ offer. Primarily, de Villiers had retired exactly a year before the World Cup was scheduled, in May 2018, which means he did not fulfil the selection criteria, which included playing South African domestic cricket or international cricket in the intervening months.
It was also felt that it would be unfair to replace the players who have been performing in his absence, men such as Rassie van der Dussen, who made three fifties in his first four ODI innings after making his debut against Pakistan in January.
Recently, South Africa have lost their third consecutive World Cup 2019 match against India at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. This is the first time when South Africa have lost three World Cup matches in a row, since their debut.
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