An AB return would have been disruptive: Pollock

Former skipper Shaun Pollock has defended the decision of South African selectors to decline AB de Villiers’ offer to come out of retirement for their World Cup campaign, saying the alternative would have been “disruptive” to the side’s push to win the tournament.

Cricket South Africa confirmed on Thursday that the idea of de Villiers returning to the international side had been raised in April, eleven months after he announced his retirement from international cricket.

The suggestion, put forward by skipper Faf du Plessis and coach Ottis Gibson, was declined by selectors, a move backed by Pollock on Thursday.

“If it did come just as the (World Cup) team was about to be announced, that’s quite disruptive from a team perspective,” Pollock said.

“If we do find out he was available, maybe he should have spoken up a little earlier. That would have been good.”

Image Id: 64A0848C6D9140DF99C4D1D581E1FCA5 Image Caption: Shaun Pollock believes Faf du Plessis and South Africa are correct in not allowed an AB de Villiers return // Getty

De Villiers reportedly reached out to du Plessis and Gibson during a stretch of impressive form for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, where he scored 442 runs at an average of 44.2.

Given the news reached selectors just as they were finalising their World Cup squad, the idea of a comeback was deemed “unfair” to South Africa’s current squad members.

“We had players who put in the hard work, who put up their hands and deserved to be given the opportunity to go to the World Cup,” national selector Linda Zondi said.

“The decision was based on principle; we had to be fair to the team, the selection panel, our franchise system and players.” 

South Africa have begun their World Cup campaign with a string of underwhelming performances and unfortunate injuries.

The Proteas have lost to England, Bangladesh and India in the first week of the tournament, with Hashim Amla and Lungi Ngidi spending time on the sidelines and Dale Steyn ruled out of the event entirely due to injury.

According to Pollock, such times make it inevitable for followers of South African cricket to reminisce about the batting prowess of de Villiers, one of the country’s greatest ever players.

“You always cherish the performances he’s produced,” Pollock said.

“When you see bad batting from South Africa, you think ‘wouldn’t it be nice to be able to call on him’.

“But I can understand why the decision was made.”

South Africa will play the West Indies in a must-win match at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Monday. 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE