AB De Villiers Refutes Claims About Asking for Kagiso Rabada To Be Dropped

AB de Villiers has denied allegations about the request for the exclusion of Kagiso Rabada early on in the bowler’s career on the basis of racial profiling. Former national selector Hussein Manack testified in Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Social Justice and National Building hearing regarding the events that transpired in the adolescent stages of Rabada’s career.

Refuting all such claims, de Villiers stated that all the decisions were taken in the ‘best interests of the team’. He clarified that Rabada was a brilliant bowler and one of the top prospects at the time and he never wanted the pacer to be dropped. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, the 37-year-old de Villiers said,

“I have never wanted KG dropped from any team at any time. The idea is ridiculous. He is one of the finest bowlers in world cricket.”

Earlier, Manack discussed at length, the events that transpired prior to the Wanderers Test against England back in 2015-16. The incident, which hadn’t come to light before, was described by Manack, who was the selector back then.

“I had been to the practice the day before and a decision had to be made between playing Kyle Abbott and Hardus Viljoen. A discussion at practice took place and they [the team management] said we must drop KG [Rabada],” he said.

“They weren’t happy with the fact that we stood our ground” – Hussein Manack

The match which Manack is talking about saw Rabada pick up a five-wicket haul. He also went to registered career-best figures of 13/144 in the very next game which pretty much cemented his spot. Talking about the incidents taking place in the back, Manack stated the path wasn’t as rosy as it looked on the field.

“I asked on what basis. Rabada was 20 years old and he hadn’t established himself as a great player but having seen him at the Lions, where he was coming through, I had seen a lot of him. He had a good enough reputation. There was a cricketing explanation that maybe the ball wasn’t coming out of his hand right,” he continued.

“I took it back to [bowling coach] Charl Langeveldt and … Charl’s view was that he was comfortable and everybody on the selection panel was unanimous that Rabada had to play. I said our decision is that Rabada has to play. There was one more spot that had to be filled. We said between Abbott and Viljoen, you decide who you want. We don’t have a strong view either way. In the end, they went for Viljoen and they weren’t happy with the fact that we had stood our ground,” Manack asserted.

Kagiso Rabada is currently South Africa’s frontline pacer and alongside Anrich Nortje, has formed a deadly new-ball bowling combination for the Proteas.