Former South African captain, AB de Villiers, has finally broken his silence over the controversy surrounding his return to the World Cup squad.
The modern great has brushed aside the assumptions that he wanted to force his way into the team. However, he had said yes to the ‘request’ of an official from Cricket South Africa that ‘the door was still open’ for World Cup soon after he retired from international cricket.
According to the latest statement by the South African, he was asked to play for his team and not the other way around.
I was asked. I did not offer. I quickly replied ‘Yes’. With hindsight, maybe I should have just said no, but my natural instinct has always been to find a way to oblige whenever possible.
He said that two days before the squad announcement, he had a chat with Faf du Plessis where he repeated what he had said a year ago that he was available to play, but ‘only if required’. “I made absolutely no demands at all”, the statement read.
As the leak unfolded, a wave of criticism followed, terming AB as a selfish cricketer and so many other things.
I was unfairly described as arrogant, selfish and indecisive but, with all humility, my conscience is clear. I retired for honest reasons and, when asked if I could be available for the World Cup, agreed to keep the door open.
What are your thoughts on AB’s retirement and the desire to play the World Cup saga? Let us know in the comments section.
