Faf du Plessis hopes the controversy over AB De Villiers’ attempt to come out of retirement for the 2019 ICC World Cup can fuel his side’s bid to rescue their spluttering campaign.
South Africa’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a slender thread after Monday’s match against the West Indies was abandoned due to rain in Southampton. As if that wasn’t bad enough, South Africa also had to spring into crisis-management mode when it was revealed last week that former star batsman de Villiers offered to come out of retirement on the eve of the World Cup squad being announced.
De Villiers’ approach was snubbed by South Africa’s cricket chiefs and Du Plessis claimed the row over whether or not he should have been selected could actually bring the squad closer together.
“We do feel like the news came into the camp and just went through the team. It didn’t have a big impact,” Du Plessis said.
“We do feel like the news came into the camp and just went through the team. It didn’t have a big impact,” Du Plessis said.
“There was a discussion on clarity and making sure everyone knows what’s going on.
“The squad was already picked. I spoke to the coach and selectors the next day, and we all agreed it was too late to change the team.”
Defeat to the West Indies would have left South Africa with almost no chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
