The recent reports of AB de Villiers giving an offer for the South African team at the last moment of the selection have created a lot of buzz in the cricketing world. The latest to speak on the issue is the Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who lambasted AB de Villiers for picking IPL, PSL over ICC World Cup 2019.
The flamboyant cricketer has called it quits exactly one year before to the ICC World Cup 2019. However, at the last moment, he asked the board to consider him playing for the grand event in summer. However, surprisingly, in fact, rightly, the management didn’t accept the request.
Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar quoted that the South African board was right in not allowing AB de Villiers back into the game. In the meantime, Shoaib Akhtar tried to explain the role of money, which played a key role in AB de Villiers calling curtains on his game.
AB de Villiers announced early retirement to play IPL, PSL –
He explained that AB de Villiers picked Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League over the country, which made him retire from the International Cricket. Further, he also thrashed AB de Villiers for issuing such statements when the team was down.
“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.
I don’t mind people making money – Shoaib Akhtar
Further, Shoaib Akhtar went on to add saying that he won’t mind people trying to make money. But, all he wants from the individual is to prioritise the Country over money.
“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,” he added.
Well, it would be interesting to see how AB de Villiers responds to the harsh statement from Shoaib Akhtar. Meanwhile, South African highlighted two major points behind the exclusion of AB de Villiers.
The first viewpoint was that the player needs to play a domestic tournament at least for a few months to be considered for the selection. Furthermore, they felt that it would be unfair for the other cricketers, who performed in his absence to grab the opportunity.
Meanwhile, South Africa have now recorded their worst start in eight World Cup campaigns. After losing their first two matches, to England and Bangladesh, they went down by six wickets to Virat Kohli’s men in Southampton on last Wednesday.