No, AB de Villiers hasn't been offered South Africa captaincy; Here's what Mr. 360 had said about his possible return to international cricket

Cricket fans were left surprised to see media reports stating that retired South African batsman AB de Villiers has been offered to lead the Proteas once again in the international circuit. However, the swashbuckling right-handed batsman came out quickly on social media platform Twitter to falsify the claims that he has been offered the captaincy role of the South African national team. South Africa’s Director of Cricket and former skipper, Graeme Smith was also quick to quash the reports as he termed it ‘fake news’

“Reports suggesting Cricket SA have asked me to lead the Proteas are just not true. It's hard to know what to believe these days. Crazy times. Stay safe everyone,” De Villiers tweeted on Wednesday.

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“Sorry this is absolute #FakeNews,” Smith followed.

There have been plenty of talks surrounding AB de Villiers’ return to international cricket and both Mr. 360 and the South African board including head coach Mark Boucher have been pretty open about the matter. However, ABD has always stated that he wants to prove his form and fitness before donning the national colours. But what is the truth behind the whole story of AB de Villiers being offered to lead the South African side again? A news agency had misquoted de Villiers from his interview in Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Connected’ and from there the entire story escalated.

So what is the true story? De Villiers was brutally honest in the show as he explained why he wants to prove his fitness and form before coming out of international retirement and play for South Africa again. The stylish batsman further stated that with COVID-19 pandemic postponing or cancelling every series and tournament, it is hard to say when cricket will resume and at what state he will be, at that point of time, in regards to his fitness and overall game. De Villiers further revealed that he has had a conversation with Boucher regarding a possible return during Mzansi Super League while adding he wants to be 100 per cent sure about everything before committing to play for the Proteas.

Here’s the full transcript of AB de Villiers’ interview in Star Sports’ Cricket Connected:

Q: When can you see yourself playing for South Africa again?

AB de Villiers: It is a tough question and I don’t have an honest answer yet. What I can share with you guys is that the desire is there from my side. The desire to get me involved with the Proteas have been shown by Cricket South Africa as well. With Mark Boucher as Coach and Graeme Smith as Director, they are keen to get me involved which is very pleasing to hear. I hope everything works out and there a few things that need to fall in place. The most important thing to me is I have to be in the tip-top form and I have to be better than the player next to me. If I deserve a spot in the side it becomes easy for me to feel like I deserve to be in the side and I have earned my spot. I have not been in the Proteas side for a while and I think that is important for myself and for other people as well to see if I am still good enough to play them. Secondly, my fitness and health. Who knows where will I be in 6-12 months’ time with this virus and my desire to play in 12 months’ time I don’t know what is going to happen with the schedule. It is very difficult to lock yourself in 12 months down the line, that I wouldn’t want to do because I know I might sick myself and some other people who rely on me to play. We will see what happens for now. I feel like my desire to play again. I am hungry now to perform I always wanted to play for SA and it has been privilege and honour to wear your country’s badge on your heart hopefully that happens again and I will do everything I can to give myself that opportunity again.

Yes, I had some discussions with Mark Boucher during the Mzansi Super League in SA. We had a lot of fun with the Tshwane Spartans the team that I played for. With Boucher as a coach, I really enjoyed my time there. Boucher is a born leader he is a natural leader. When he speaks you listen because he says the right things at the right time but secondly he backs with 147 test matches for SA a lot of ODIs and a lot of experience playing international cricket. When I listen to him I do feel like there is always something to learn so I really enjoy him as a coach and we started talking about my enjoyment for the game which he could see on my face when I was playing for his team, he asked me where does this come from and why do you have so much energy and why do love the game so much doesn’t it mean you have a story to tell at the international level. I told him I have never closed that book I always wanted to play I had some obstacles to cover in the last 3-4 years from a personal point of view. I always loved playing cricket and always loved hitting the cricket ball there were a lot of other factors involved me not contributing the game as much as I should have. Playing for his team there were no admin issues like that at all from the outside point of view all I could do is focus on my cricket I really enjoyed my time with Tshwane Spartans especially with the young players sharing my experiences with them, I truly felt I had a purpose and a big role to play in the team. So hopefully I can have that role again moving forward and who knows it will be for proteas under Boucher as a coach. As I said before if everything falls in place I will get that opportunity again.

Yes, that is my worry the schedule for the next 12 months is unclear the virus is hitting and what is going to happen with the cricket schedule around the world. That is one of my big worries and reasons why I am not committing to any cricket at the moment. I have always been a person who tries to be in now as much as possible, for now, it is important for me to think there might be a possibility that I could play for SA again for me it is important to be as fit as possible send time on the treadmill be at the gym making sure that I am fitter stronger and healthier to the person next to me whoever is going to be my competition. Once I get an opportunity to go outside my house is to start hitting the cricket ball and to get into that form that I was in 2015 and let's say in the latter half of my career when I was playing cricket I really want to get into that form of playing cricket I quickly as I can. I want to focus but there is a lot of uncertainty in terms of scheduling of cricket over the next 12 months we will have to see what is going to happen.

Yes, things might change if the tournament might get postponed to 2021, I don’t know honestly it is something I don’t want to commit to at the moment, because of the past experiences really getting hurt in the past by committing to certain things I wasn’t 100% sure of. Not communicating to the right people at the right time. I really want to get right this time once I feel I am 100% ready to commit to avail myself to SA for T20 WC whenever that happens with good communication to Mark Boucher, Graeme Smith and whoever to communicate with then I will get to a point where ok let’s put it out there I am 100% available without getting picked or not but I am prepared to put myself out there and give it a full go.

Q: Have I learnt any new skills in the lockdown period?

ABD: To be honest not really, but life has changed a lot. To stay in the vicinity of my house we have got a small garden, it’s been frustrating with me being an outdoors person I love outdoors I love my space and freedom. We have discovered that with good strong routine and you really feel like you have got some kind of purpose. I have got a new workout, I have got a small gym in my home where I run a lot on my treadmill and I have the basics when it comes to dumbbells and I have mats to do my floor exercise as well. So I have kept myself busy with that I have got 2 toddlers 3 and 5 yrs old and they have kept me busy. We do a little bit of school that we do online and my wife and I, we work throughout the day with our toddlers and with cooking making some nice food and at night when the kids are off to sleep we have an hour or two to ourselves we watch a bit of TV series that keeps us busy and entertaining. The most important for me and my wife this lockdown has been the health and a good routine.