AB de Villiers To Lead Tshwane Spartans In Mzansi Super League
Updated - 14 Nov 2018, 10:21 AM
Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers will lead Tshwane Spartans in the inaugural edition of the Mzansi Super League in South Africa.
AB de Villiers will now be plying his trade in his native country’s first franchise-based T20 competition, the Mzansi Super League.
Ever since he announced his shock retirement from international cricketer earlier this year, there were apprehensions over whether he would play the game anymore or not. However, De Villiers has quashed all those speculations by making himself available for the IPL as well PSL. Prior to that, he would play for Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League.
The batting star had shocked the whole world by retiring in May this year despite batting so well. He helped South Africa beat India and Australia in Test series at home this year. He was the standout performer for his side as he played all the seven Tests. The legendary batsman scored six fifties and a hundred in the seven Tests and was instrumental to South Africa’s success.
It was followed by a productive outing in the Indian Premier League. The right-handed batsman was the second highest run-scorer for his side, amassing 480 runs in 12 outings with the help of 6 fifties.
De Villiers will go down as one of the finest ever batsmen in the history of the game. No matter what the format was or what the conditions were, he rarely failed. If his traditional stroke-play made the traditionalists drool then his scarcely-believable wide array of unorthodox shots left this generation gasping for breath.
He scored a staggering 20,014 international runs (8765 in Tests, 9577 in ODIs and 1672 in T20Is). The right-hander also finished his career with a batting average over 50 in both Tests, and ODIs. He also holds the record for the fastest 50, fastest 100 and fastest 150 in ODIs, all coming against the Windies. The batting stalwart smashed a 31-ball 100 in Johannesburg in 2015 and hit a 66-ball 162 in the 2015 World Cup encounter in Sydney.
His stint with Tshwane Spartans will be mark his return to competitive cricket since his retirement.
De Villiers has enough experience as captain as well as player. He has led South Africa 124 times in international cricket in addition to playing in IPL since 2008.
“I try to lead from the front and rely on the experience I’ve picked up over the years,” he said. “I believe I’m a decent man-manager when it comes to understanding players’ strengths and weaknesses. I’m looking forward to it. It’s an exciting challenge and I’m ready for it.”
He further expressed his excitement over playing in the league.
“I think it will be a great game and I am looking forward to it,” de Villiers said. “The quality of cricket in the Mzansi Super League is going to be good. It’s very exciting, I am very happy to finally be part of the tournament that I believe will help South African cricket development and give youngsters incredible exposure to play with some of the world superstars.”
