AB de Villiers returns to cricket
Listen to article
Former South African captain and cricket star AB de Villiers has confirmed his return to the game this July, marking his first appearance since retiring from all formats four years ago.
De Villiers, widely regarded as one of the most dynamic batters in cricket history, initially retired from international cricket in 2018. He continued to play in franchise leagues until 2021, when he retired from all forms of the game.
Recently, the 40-year-old expressed his desire to return to the field, revealing that his young sons' growing interest in the sport rekindled his passion for cricket.
"Four years ago, I retired from all cricket because I just didn't feel the urge to play anymore," de Villiers said. "But time has passed, and my young sons have started playing the game. We've been playing more and more often in the garden, and, well, it feels as though some kind of flame has been lit again."
De Villiers confirmed that he will be returning to competitive cricket to lead the South Africa Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. "So, I am heading back to the gym and the nets, and I'll be ready for WCL in July," he added.
The World Championship of Legends (WCL) is a unique T20 tournament featuring retired and non-contracted cricketers representing their national teams. The upcoming edition in 2025 will be the second edition of the tournament, following its inaugural edition in 2024, where the Indian team, captained by Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.
De Villiers' last appearance in competitive cricket was in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
New Zealand name Walter as new coach in all formats
South African Rob Walter was appointed New Zealand coach in all formats on Friday in the wake of Gary Stead's decision to stand down after seven years in charge. Stead announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the job of test coach at the end of the month, having already relinquished the short format roles in April. Walter, 49, was most recently coach of South Africa's One-day international and Twenty20 teams but knows New Zealand cricket well after stints in charge of provincial teams as well as his time overseeing a Black Caps "A" tour of India in 2022. "The Black Caps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now and it's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that," Walter said in a New Zealand Cricket statement. "It's an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested." Walter, who led South Africa to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup and final of last year's Twenty20 World Cup, is contracted through to the end of the 2028 World Cup, which New Zealand is co-hosting with Australia. "Rob is a world-class coach with an outstanding pedigree," said NZC chief executive Scott Weenink. "His success in New Zealand's domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Black Caps." New Zealand's next international matches come in July at the start of their tour of Zimbabwe, where they will play two tests and a Twenty20 tri-series also involving South Africa.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Australia's Starc comfortable with IPL pullout regardless of repercussion
MELBOURNE: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is comfortable with his decision to leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the India-Pakistan clashes last month regardless of any repercussions, the 35-year-old said. The IPL was suspended on May 9 in the wake of hostilities between the two. It resumed on May 17 after the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire. While most IPL foreign recruits returned to complete their franchise commitment, the Delhi Capitals duo of Starc and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk took no further part in the 10-team league. 'I'm comfortable with my decision and how I felt about the whole situation and how it was handled,' Starc told the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. 'Time will tell with repercussions or how it looks with guys that didn't return. But I've had my questions and concerns leading into that game, and obviously we saw what happened, which played a part in my decision.' Starc was in Dharamsala, near the Pakistan border, for Delhi's May 9 match against the Punjab Kings. The contest was abandoned midway through, although league organisers blamed it on a floodlights failure. 'Jake and I chose not to (return). So it was a very individual decision, and I'm happy to live with whatever comes of that,' Starc said. He opted out of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier this year citing personal reasons and has skipped the IPL more than once to preserve himself for international cricket. Marsh back to skipper Australia in Windies T20s, Cummins and Starc rested The left-arm quick said he withdrew from the remainder of the IPL because of the extraordinary circumstances. 'I'm still heavily committed to the Delhi group, and I'm not someone that's gone into tournaments and pulled out after being picked up in an auction or whatever that looks like,' Starc said. 'These are different circumstances … I had a discussion back home then came to a decision, and whatever comes from that I'm comfortable with that and we move forward.'
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
New Zealand name South African Walter as new coach in all formats
South African Rob Walter was appointed New Zealand coach in all formats on Friday in the wake of Gary Stead's decision to stand down after seven years in charge. Stead announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the job of test coach at the end of the month, having already relinquished the short format roles in April. Walter, 49, was most recently coach of South Africa's one-day international and Twenty20 teams but knows New Zealand cricket well after stints in charge of provincial teams as well as his time overseeing a Black Caps 'A' tour of India in 2022. 'The Black Caps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now and it's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that,' Walter said in a New Zealand Cricket statement. 'It's an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested.' Walter, who led South Africa to the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup and final of last year's Twenty20 World Cup, is contracted through to the end of the 2028 World Cup, which New Zealand is co-hosting with Australia. Stead stands down as New Zealand coach after seven years 'Rob is a world-class coach with an outstanding pedigree,' said NZC chief executive Scott Weenink. 'His success in New Zealand's domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Black Caps.' New Zealand's next international matches come in July at the start of their tour of Zimbabwe, where they will play two tests and a Twenty20 tri-series also involving South Africa.
