AB de Villiers' retirement a big blow to South Africa, says coach Ottis Gibson

AB de Villiers announced retirement from international cricket recently.

AB de Villiers retired from international cricket recently

Ottis Gibson, head coach of the South African Cricket Team has reiterated how big a blow AB de Villiers' retirement is for his team, with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England only one year away. Gibson has stated that it bereft his team of the great ability that the star batsman possessed for their future assignments.

De Villiers made a sudden and untimely retirement from international cricket last week and surprised everyone, including the coach of his national team.

Gibson ahead of the South African squad getting together to undergo their annual fitness and medical assessments, was quoted saying, "We had a conversation, He called me the morning before he made the announcement, We had a long conversation around whether he was making the right decision. He reckons he is. He has spoken to the people in his close circle."

"He is one of the best players in the world. He could have made a huge difference in the World Cup and he knows that... he's chosen to walk away from the game at this time and it is what it is."

Pertinent to the ICC World Cup next year, Gibson said, "We'll have to alter our plans obviously but it gives us enough time to do that. It's disappointing for the country and world cricket that AB de Villiers isn't playing cricket anymore,"

South Africa have never won a cricket World Cup and this extremely unforeseen event of their best player retiring will make the campaign very tough next year.

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 29 May, 2018

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