South Africa skipper Faf Du Plessis reveals why AB De Villiers failed to be a part of World Cup squad
South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis on Monday press conference revealed that his ex-teammate, good friend and former cricketer AB De Villiers had called him just the night before the selection of World Cup 2019 squad. He told that De Villiers told him if national needed he will come out of retirement and play for the nation.
The skipper told but this phone call came to him too late as till then the selections were zeroed in the names to be selected for World Cup squad. The selectors just announced the team on next day without De Villiers. "It was just a conversation, a phone call the night before the team got announced. It was just a 'this is what I'm feeling' [phone call]" told Du Plessis.
Faf du Plessis "AB de Villiers called me the night before the World Cup squad was to be announced - I said to him I think it's too late" #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/NREfOsk7CB
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 10, 2019
"I said to him, 'I think it is too late but I will check in with the coach and the selectors the next morning.' When I spoke to the coach and the selectors, they all agreed that it was way, way too late to change the team on 99.99 per cent," Du Plessis revealed after their match against West Indies washed out due to rain.
However, Faf Du Plessis also told that this small thing has not changed anything in between the friends. "AB and I are still friends. This incident has not changed that. This is a small thing for a friendship that goes so way back." said Faf.
Meanwhile, the South African team has already refused De Villiers's offer to come out of retirement and play for South Africa. They told that it was a just conversation between Faf and him.
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First published: 11 June 2019, 11:15 IST