Mark Boucher sets deadline for 'free agent' AB de Villiers' international comeback

De Villiers will be seen in action for the RCB in the IPL 2020 starting March 29.

By Rashmi Nanda - 04 Mar, 2020

South African batting legend Ab De Villiers’ fans are eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite Mr 360 back on the field ever since the batting superman has expressed his desire to come out of his international retirement ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

De Villiers, who had shockingly called time on his international career in 2018, had revealed his thoughts of making comeback to the game ahead of the 2019 World Cup, but it could not happen as the final South Africa squad was already selected.

Read Also: IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals brutally roasted RCB's AB de Villiers in a Twitter banter

Since then, the speculations are swirling around De Villiers’ international comeback and even he also expresses his desire to play in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia later this year.

Well, De Villiers may now very soon in action at the international arena, as the South Africa head coach Mark Boucher has set a deadline for the “free agents” to make themselves available for national selection before June 1 to be in contention for T20 World Cup 2020 selection.

According to the latest statement by Boucher, the 36-year-old could make his international return for South Africa against Sri Lanka in June this year.

The South African said the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the big stage and the 'free agents' likes De Villiers, Imran Tahir, and Chris Morris can make themselves available for national selection after the IPL 2020 if they want to make the cut to South Africa's squad for the T20 World Cup 2020.

As per reports in cricket.com.au, Boucher said: “The big one is the IPL so we decided to let those guys - the free agents if you want to call them that - do the IPL and then afterward make themselves available.”

The coach feels the retired cricketers will have enough matches to prove themselves ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2020 to be held in Australia form from October 18 to November 15.

He signed off by saying, “We’ve still got quite a few games (before the World Cup). From the first of June, which is the Sri Lanka tour, those guys need to make themselves available. Whether we select them is another story. But they need to make themselves available if they want to put their hands up for a World Cup spot.”

(With cricket.com.au Inputs)

By Rashmi Nanda - 04 Mar, 2020

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