AB de Villiers To Play In T20 World Cup, Confirms Mark Boucher

South Africa head coach Mark Boucher has confirmed that AB de Villiers will be a part of the team for the upcoming T20 World Cup if he makes himself available. Speculations are rife that the Proteas would recall the explosive batsman ever since Mark Boucher took over as coach in December.

The former South Africa captain retired from all international cricket in May 2018. He, however, tried to make a sensational comeback during the 2019 50-over World Cup in England. However, the South African team-management and the selectors decided against it.

But Mark Boucher has now confirmed that the right-handed batsman is in prime position to play in this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The former Proteas wicketkeeper said that he has been in talk with AB de Villiers for quite some time and a final decision will be made public soon.

“He’s a discussion in the media and in the public but he is no discussion for me. I have had chats with him and we will probably know pretty soon what’s going to happen with him,” Boucher said. “Like I said from day one when I took over, if we are going to a World Cup, I would like to have our best players there.

“If AB is in good form and he is raring to go and he makes himself available for the time we have asked him to be available; if he is the best man for the job, then he must go. It’s not about egos or anything like that, it’s about sending your best team to the World Cup to try and win that competition,” added Boucher.

Boucher’s comments came right after South Africa lost the T20I series to England 1-2. The Proteas posted a mammoth total of 222 in the series-decider. However, they had no answer to the onslaught from England led by their captain Eoin Morgan who slammed 57 off just 22 balls.