Watch As Shoaib Akhtar Destroys AB de Villiers For Choosing Money Over Country

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has launched a scathing attack at AB de Villiers after his sensational proposal to come out of international retirement for the World Cup. De Villiers had left everyone shellshocked by bringing down curtains on his international career last summer. He, however, continued playing franchise cricket across the globe.

But 24 hours before South Africa’s final squad announcement, de Villiers offered to play for them in the World Cup.  The former South Africa skipper had conveyed his desire to current skipper Faf du Plessis, coach Ottis Gibson and convenor of selectors Linda Zondi. However, the Proteas’ team-management turned down the offer.

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According to media reports, there were two reasons behind de Villiers getting the rejection. The first one was that de Villiers had retired in May 2018, exactly a year before the World Cup was scheduled. Thereafter, he did not fulfil the selection criteria, which included playing South African domestic cricket or international cricket in the intervening months. Secondly, the team-management felt that including de Villiers would have been unfair on the players who have been performing in his absence.

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De Villiers’ decision is garnering mixed reaction from the cricketing fraternity. Shoaib Akhtar, however, came down hard on him and slammed him for choosing money over country. Speaking for his YouTube channel, Akhtar said that De Villiers’ decision to quit international cricket was solely motivated for monetary gains.

“Recently AB De Villiers announced that he wants to play for South Africa in the World Cup. This is big news but why is he issuing such statements when South Africa are down and out,” Akhtar said.

“Firstly, people must not forget that there was pressure on AB De Villiers to leave IPL and PSL contracts and make himself available for the World Cup. However, he chose the IPL and PSL, announced an early retirement and recused himself from the World Cup. So basically everything started with finance. I think when he took this decision, he did it looking at his finances and economics,” he added.

Akhtar further said:

“I don’t mind people making money but do it in the right way. If you indeed have to make money then pick and chose correctly but keep your country as the priority.”

“Now to clear your name you made a last-ditch offer to come out of international retirement for this summer’s World Cup. But I think the management was correct in their stand.”

Here is the whole video from Shoaib Akhtar: