AB de Villiers Concerned About Coming In Ahead Of Other Players Who Have Been Part Of The System - South Africa Coach Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher, coach of the South Africa cricket team, reveals the reason why AB de Villiers, who made a sudden retirement in 2018, turned down the opportunity to make a return to the national side.

Since the 2019 World Cup, where South Africa fared disappointingly, there have been talks of de Villiers returning to the side.

In the recent IPL 2021, where he was in supreme touch, the Royal Challengers Bangalore keeper-batsman openly announced that he was in discussions with Mark Boucher, the coach and his former teammate, about a possible return with the T20 World Cup in mind.

“We are lined up to have a chat sometime during the IPL. But yes, we’ve been talking about it already. Last year, he asked me if I would be interested. And I said, ‘absolutely’. And come the end of the IPL, we will have a look at where we are at with regards to my form and my fitness,” AB de Villiers had said durign the IPL.

However, on Tuesday, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed that de Villiers has decided “once and for all, that his retirement will remain final”.

Mark Boucher no revealed that the batsman was concerned with the fact that he would have to replace somebody in the eleven who has been in the setup for some time, and the coach reckons de Villiers didn’t felt right about it.

“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,” Mark 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.”

AB de Villiers finalises international retirement.

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It was worth a go, but now let’s move forward: Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher acknowledges that the return of de Villiers would have done a world of good things for South Africa cricket who are struggling, on and off the field. But that isn’t to be.

Nonetheless, the 44-year-old says they have to move on from the de Villiers situation in the direction which they have been for a while after appointing new captains – Dean Elgar for Test captain and Temba Bavuma for the limited-overs over from temporary skipper Quinton de Kock.

They will travel to West Indies for 2 Tests and 5 T20Is followed by a white-ball tour of Ireland.

“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,” the former keeper stated.

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