De Villiers had hinted at a comeback during the recently-postponed IPL 2021.
As Cricket South Africa announced the red and white-ball squads for their upcoming tour of West Indies and Ireland, they also confirmed that AB de Villiers, who’d dropped several hints over the last few months of staging an international comeback in the white-ball formats, has decided “once and for all” that his retirement would remain final after discussions with the board.
“We (Head Coach Mark Boucher and him) are lined up to have a chat sometime during the IPL. But yes, we’ve been talking about it already,” de Villiers, who retired from international cricket in May 2018, had said on the sidelines of an IPL match last month. “Last year, he asked me if I would be interested. And I said, ‘absolutely’. And come the end of the IPL, we will have a look at where we are at with regards to my form and my fitness.
“Also, the situation with his team – he’s got to look at his guys who have been performing well over the last while. If there’s no space for me, so be it. If I can slot in there, it will be fantastic if all those things fall in place. Waiting for [the chat with] Bouchy towards the end of the IPL, and we will then plan accordingly.”
The Temba Bavuma-led white-ball squads to the Caribbean and Ireland retained Sisanda Magala and Lizaad Williams, both of whom made their debut in the recent series versus Pakistan, where six of their regular players had left mid-way to go to the IPL. The only difference between the two white-ball squads is Keshav Maharaj, who’s been rested from the five-match T20I series that follows the two Tests against the West Indies.
The Test tour will mark the first time Dean Elgar would be leading the side after being appointed the permanent skipper in March, taking over the reins from Quinton de Kock.
Natal off-spinner, Prenalan Subrayen, has received his maiden call up in what is already a pretty heavy spin department with the presence of Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde along with the part-time spin options of Aiden Markram and the skipper himself.
The Test squad has a fair bit of inexperience, with the likes of Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Saral Erwee, Marco Jansen and Lizaad Williams being the other uncapped players included.
“The Caribbean is well-known for its low and slow wickets and we have ensured that we have chosen the personnel needed for every eventuality on this very important excursion. While there aren’t any (ICC World Test Championship) points to play for, it is still of vital importance for South Africa to produce winning results through a steadily growing and high-performing cricket pipeline,” Victor Mpitsang, CSA’s Convernor of Selectors, said in a statement.
“The historic tour to Ireland is crucial for points towards our qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup and preparation for the T20 WC later this year. This is the start of our road to these trophies and every tour will see us field our absolute best sides.”
South Africa Test Squad to the West Indies
Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Peterson, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Prenelan Subrayen, Marco Jansen.
South Africa T20I Squad to the West Indies
Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller , Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
South Africa squad to Ireland
Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
South Africa will play two Tests against West Indies starting June 10 in St Lucia followed by five T20Is in Grenada. Their tour of Ireland kicks off on July 11 and will comprise of three ODIs and three T20Is.
