Cricket South Africa CEO pleaded with AB de Villiers against retirement

Cricket South Africa’s chief executive Thabang Moroe said that he pleaded enough with AB de Villiers not to retire now, with the World Cup looming around the corner. CSA had centred much of its World Cup plans around the swashbuckling batsman, with Faf du Plessis now under immense pressure.

De Villiers, took to his official app to announce his retirement from International cricket, amidst much shock from the cricketing fraternity. It was not only the cricketers who shed a tear or two but also the huge fan base that the Proteas has around the world due to ABD.

ABD, during his stay with the Proteas, has played 114 Test matches, 228 One Day Internationals and 78 T20 Internationals, before making the big decision to call it a quits from the game he dearly loved. He said, he was tired, and it was time to give others a chance, after representing his country for 14 years.

A number of records held by ABD

A number of records, fall out of place when the right-handed de Villiers takes the crease for the South African team. Currently, the right-hander holds the record for fastest ODI 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls), the second highest individual Test score for South Africa (278*), the highest points (935) by a South African on the ICC Test ranking alongside claiming the South African cricketer of the year twice.

Moroe said that he has been in contact with the South African batsman and has already pleaded him to come back to the national team for the World Cup.

Could Moroe convince the right-hander?

“I pleaded with him to come back home first and talk about this and iron out how we are going to do this, and also get an understanding, but he had reached a point where he needed to do this today, which is something he has been thinking about for the last couple of months,” said Moroe as quoted by EyeWitness News.

Moroe further said how an AB de Villiers less South Africa could affect their chances of lifting the World Cup trophy when they take on the hosts in the tournament starting 2019.

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