AB de Villiers : Will meet CSA in August to decide my future
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South African skipper AB de Villiers stated that he would meet Cricket South Africa (CSA) in August to decide his future and role in the team. The 33-year old also clarified that whoever will be put in charge of the team would be handed the reins for a span of years, and not for a particular series.
South Africa lost the three-match T20 series to hosts England yesterday, after failing to chase 181 in the third and deciding match of the series. The Proteas suffered a 19-run defeat at the hands of the home side in Cardiff, which marked their third consecutive series defeat after previously losing out to England in an ODI series and a group stage exit from the recently concluded Champions Trophy.
The South African side will now lock horns with the hosts in a four-match Test series. However, de Villiers will skip the series owing to the strain caused due to his active participation in all the three international formats and lucrative T20 leagues around the world. The 33-year- old had led the Proteas side in the absence of Faf du Plessis in the T20 series.
South Africa will take on Bangladesh in a Test series at home in September and de Villiers suggested that his role in the team would be clear by then. "I am going to meet with CSA (Cricket South Africa) in August, and that will decide my (international) future," de Villiers told reporters in the post-match press conference yesterday after he scored a typical 19-ball 35.
"We will see what works for both parties," said the gifted batsman, who has scored 8074 runs from 106 Tests, which includes 21 centuries, at an average of 50.46.
"We are not going to pick and choose games, but we are going to make a final decision about what happens for the next few years," he added.
Further, when questioned about what his plans would be for a forthcoming couple of months, de Villiers replied, "I am going to spend a bit of time off at home with the family, Iâm going to welcome my new youngster into the world, and obviously look to stay fit. I want to make sure I am ready for September when Bangladesh come."
Although the South African team is not short of talent they have never been able to win a World Cup and have time and again faltered on the big stage in crucial matches, with their last setback being the semi-final loss against New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup. Moreover, such results have also earned South Africa the unwanted tag of 'chokers'. However, de Villiers has expressed his desire to win the World Cup with the team in any role possible.
"Itâs my main dream to win a World Cup for South Africa or to be part of it in one way or another. I donât even think itâs in my hands, what is going to happen. I will wait until the final decision on the coach and things like that are made," he explained, with head coach Russel Domingo's future uncertain. Then I can also have a chat to CSA, to see where I am going to fit in," he stated.
Finally, along with de Villiers, South African Test captain Faf du Plessis is also expected to remain absent for the first Test against England at Lord's, commencing on July 6th as he awaits the birth of his first child. But when de Villiers was asked if he had thought about staying on to lead the Test side until the return of du Plessis he replied, "No, not at all. I am batting really well at the moment, and really enjoying that. I love scoring runs, and that is all I am going to miss over the next two months."
