Tag: AB De Villiers

Former South Africa stalwart AB de Villiers has named former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif in his all-time World XI, revealed on the sidelines of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

Currently in England for the World Championship of Legends, where he represents the South African champions, De Villiers unveiled his all-time playing XI, which features both current and former players.

The 41-year-old started with an opening pair of compatriot Greame Smith and former Australia explosive batter Matthew Hayden.

He placed Australia legend Ricky Ponting at the crucial No. 03 spot and India batting icon Virat Kohli on the No. 04 position. Furthermore, he picked two more batters from the fabulous four, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, at No 05 and 06, respectively.

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At No. 07, he picked India’s World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni as a wicket-keeper.

In the bowling lineup, he started with former Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson. Notably, he selected Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, known for his swing bowling.

De Villiers faced Mohammad Asif, on couple of occasions and praise him for his outstanding bowling. The righ-arm pacer played for Pakistan in 23 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 11 T20Is

 

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Lastly, he included the legendary spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and late Shane Warne, with Glenn McGrath interestingly selected as a 12th man.

A day earlier, the batting maestro demonstrated his class against India Champions, propelling South Africa Champions to a comprehensive 88-run victory.

Put into bat first, South Africa posted an imposing total of 208 runs, thanks to AB de Villiers’ 61 off 31 balls, striking three fours and four maximums.

In pursuit of the target, India Champions could only manage to score 111-9 in 18.2 overs in a rain-affected game, eventually losing the fixture according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method.

AB De Villiers World XI

Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, MS Dhoni, Mitchell Johnson, Mohammad Asif, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Shane Warne.

READ: Hashim Amla picks his top three batting icons of all time

NORTHAMPTON: AB de Villiers’ classy knock and Aaron Phangiso’s spin magic powered South Africa Champions to a massive 88-run (DLS) win over India Champions in the sixth match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 here at the County Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Chasing a daunting 209-run target, the reigning champions crumbled under pressure and could manage to score 111-9 in 18.2 overs in a rain-hit game.

South Africa Champions struck early, leaving India Champions reeling with four wickets down inside powerplay.

Wayne Parnell started the proceedings for the Proteas, bowling an outstanding two-over spell in which he gave nothing and took two wickets.

Robin Uthappa (2), Shikhar Dhawan (1), Suresh Raina (1`6) and Ambati Rayadu went without scoring as they were reduced to 28-4 in 5.3 overs.

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The wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals for the India Champions, with none of the middle order batters scoring significantly except Stuart Binny, who top-scored with his 37* off 30 balls.

For South Africa, Aaron Phangiso was the standout bowler, scalping three wickets in his quota of four overs, while Imran Tahir and Wayne Parnell each picked up two wickets.

Earlier, AB de Villiers’ powerful knock propelled South Africa Champions to an imposing total.

Put into bat first, South Africa Champions posted 208-6 in their allocated 20 overs.

The Proteas opener provided a solid start as they scored 35 runs in 4 overs. Hashim Amla looked as elegant as ever with his 22 off 19 balls, laced with crisp four boundaries.

Jack Rudolph (24 off 20 balls), who looked in delicate touch, forged a brief little stand with Sarel Erwee (15 off 12) to bring the total to 66. However, India Champions roared back with back-to-back wickets in the eighth over as both of the set batters went back to the pavilion.

Consequently, the arrival of AB de Villiers always instilled fear in the opposition as he set the tone for South Africa to post an imposing total.

Meanwhile, India Champions struck on regular intervals in the middle overs, but De Villiers’ 63* off 30 balls, peppered with four maximums and three fours, took the rainbow nation over the 200-run mark.

For India Champions, Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla took two wickets.

READ: WCL 2025: Walton, Edwards star as West Indies defeat England

South Africa’s batting maestro AB de Villiers has warned England ahead of the second Test, stating that Jasprit Bumrah could feature in the India playing XI as a surprise.

The second Test between India and Englnad will commence on 2 July at Edgbaston, a venue where India has not won a single match in the previous eight outings.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers heaped high praise on Jasprit Bumrah, stressing his workload management. He suggested that India should outline a plan similar to the one used for managing former Proteas pacer Dale Steyn in the past.

“He is probably the top bowler in the world in all formats right now. So, it’s very difficult to decide a way to rest him, but in my opinion, Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game,” he said.

“And this Test series probably would’ve been the one, in my opinion, to get him ready for all five Test matches. That’s what we used to do with Dale (Steyn). Rest him in lesser important T20 and ODI series and get him ready for the big Test series against Australia, England, and India away from home,” AB de Villiers added.

He also lamented on Jasprit Bumrah not playing all test matches but warned England that India might use the right-arm pacer as a surprise weapon for the remainder of the series.

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“It’s unfortunate that with an inexperienced bowling attack that he’s not gonna play all the Test matches, so at least that’s how it seems to have been communicated in the media.”

“Maybe it’s all part of the surprise, saying, ‘We are thinking of resting Bumrah,’ but then he ends up playing all five Test matches as a surprise. I think being 1-0 down, that’s hopefully the surprise for Team India, ” Ab de Villiers stated while highlighting Bumrah’s workload management.

For context, before the five-match Test series against England, the Indian team management outlined a workload management plan for Jasprit Bumrah, allowing him to feature in only three Test matches.

The precautionary major was taken in light of Bumrah’s back surgery after the Border-Gavaskar series.

READ: Gautam Gambhir clears the air on Bumrah’s participation in remaining England Tests

The South Africa Champions have named a star-studded squad led by star batter AB de Villiers for the World Championship of Legends (WCL) season 2, set to be held in England from July 18 to August 2.

De Villiers is joined by the South African batting maestro Hashim Amla, along with Chris Morris, JP Duminy, and Wayne Parnell.

Following the squad announcement, AB de Villiers expressed his excitement to be back on the field.

“There’s nothing like playing for South Africa. Being back with this group of legends, in front of fans who’ve always supported us, is truly special. WCL is a celebration of cricket’s spirit—and we’re here not just to participate, but to compete and ultimately to win,” De Villiers said.

In addition to this, franchise owner Amandeep Singh commented on the squad’s strength, mentioning the fans around the globe.

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“This squad is crafted to ignite passion and inspire fans worldwide,” Singh stated.

“Legends like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, and JP Duminy carry a legacy that echoes across generations. We are truly honoured to have them lead our campaign in WCL 2025, and we are confident the South Africa Champions will set the tournament ablaze,” he added.

For the unversed, the 2025 WCL will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams—India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies—will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

South Africa Champions squad for WCL 2025:

AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Albie Morkel, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, JJ Smuts, Hardus Viljoen, Richard Levi, Dane Vilas, SJ Erwee, Duanne Olivier, Morne van Wyk and Aaron Phangiso.

READ: Chris Gayle named in star-studded West Indies squad for WCL 2025

DUBLIN: West Indies’ Matthew Forde joined former South Africa star AB de Villiers in a record-equalling feat, scoring the joint fastest half-century in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

The right-handed achieved the feat in the match against Ireland here in the second ODI. Forde smashed 16 balls 50, leveling Ab de Villiers’ record, which he set against West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

Matthew Forde went on to score a 19-ball 58, peppered with two fours and eight maximums.

Put into bat first, the West Indies scored 352 for the loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs, thanks to Keach Carty’s sublime century.

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Carty top-scored with 102 off 109 deliveries, laced with 13 fours and a six. Meanwhile, the West Indies were in a precarious position after his dismissal.

Ireland reduced the visitors to 213-5 in 36.4 overs, but it was Matthew Forde who bludged a magnificent fifty, bringing the score to 314 in 46.5 overs.

It is pertinent to mention that Ireland is 1-0 ahead in the three-match series. The home team gave West Indies a drubbing in the first ODI, securing a comprehensive victory by 124 runs.

Andy Balbirnie was named Player of the Match for his 112 off 138 balls.

It is pertinent to mention that the West Indies will play England in a White-ball series following the conclusion of the Ireland tour.

West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

Series schedule against Ireland 

First ODI v Ireland: May 21, Dublin
Second ODI v Ireland: May 23, Dublin
Third ODI v Ireland: May 25, Dublin

Series schedule against England

First ODI v England: May 29, Birmingham
Second ODI v England: June 1, Cardiff
Third ODI v England: June 3, The Oval

READ: Major blow for India as star pacer likely to miss England tour

Former South Africa legend AB de Villiers has made a surprising confession regarding Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, stating that he did not particularly like him.

The statement came following Virat Kohli’s retirement earlier this week. Kohli, 36, announced his retirement from red-ball cricket with an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on a journey that saw him become one of the greatest Test batters of his era.

Virat Kohli has represented India in 123 Test matches since his debut in 2011 against the West Indies. Throughout his remarkable 14-year career, he has scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.

The 37-year-old batter has also captained India in 68 Test matches, winning 40 and losing only 17.

AB de Villiers emphasized Virat Kohli’s early days in cricket, praising his competitiveness on the field.

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“Virat is like one of my cricketing brothers, someone I really grew fond of when I got to know him better. He’s an absolute pain to play against, so before I knew him I didn’t really like him a lot because he was so good and so competitive, very similar to me with that competitive nature,” De Villiers said in a video on ICC.

Former batter shared insights about his bond with Virat Kohli, recalling his time at the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

“We really like winning and we like to pull our weight within the team environment and if anything threatens that it usually brings out aggressive body language and one that will attack back and that’s exactly what Virat was like playing against.

Then I got to know him at RCB, I got to know him a lot better. We became family friends, became brothers and also became great partners at the wicket when we played together, really understood each other out there and I probably enjoyed every second of playing with him,” De Villiers added.,” he added.

READ: Former New Zealand legend joins England coaching staff

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is set to join the Pakistan Champions team for the upcoming second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), which is scheduled to commence on 18 July.

The wicket-keeper batter’s participation in the tournament was confirmed via the official social media handle of the Pakistan Champions team.

The team’s social media account posted a video confirming Sarfaraz’s signing, captioning it: “CAPTAIN. LEADER. LEGEND! Sarfaraz Ahmed is bringing his winning mentality to Pakistan Champions for WCL Season 2.”

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2017-winning captain will bring a wealth of experience in WCL Season 2, not only as a player but also as a leader.

Under Sarfaraz’s captaincy, Pakistan won 11 consecutive T20I series defeating teams like West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Zimbabwe.

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The tournament will start with a clash between the England Champions and Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. The much-awaited match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on July 31.

Moreover, the former South Africa captain and star batter AB de Villiers will be participating in the upcoming edition of the above-mentioned tournament.

For the unversed, the World Championship of Legends (WCL) is an exhilarating T20 tournament that showcases an impressive lineup of retired and non-contracted cricket players, representing their national teams.

The upcoming edition marks the second instalment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

READ: AB de Villiers confirms comeback, set to play for South Africa in THIS tournament

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has attributed the recent struggles of Indian star batter Virat Kohli to his ‘over-involvement’ in the on-field battles.

Kohli has faced significant challenges during the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, accumulating a disappointing total of just 190 runs over nine innings.

Despite a promising start to the series with a drought-ending century in the opening Test held in Perth, his performance has tapered off dramatically.

Notably, all eight times he has been dismissed in this series have come while he was attempting to play deliveries outside the off-stump.

Moreover, Virat Kohli found himself embroiled in a heated confrontation with Australian young opening batter Sam Konstas during the Melbourne Test.

In light of these struggles, AB de Villiers has stepped in with valuable advice for Kohli, acknowledging that the Indian star’s difficulties may stem from his heightened emotional involvement in the match.

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He further indicated that Kohli has allowed the crowd’s reactions to affect him. To counter this, the South African advised Kohli to take a step back and “refocus” after every ball he faces, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.

“It takes a lot of character, a lot of hunger, a lot of hours in the nets,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “I think the thing is to reset your mind, every time.”

“I think with Virat, he gets involved with the battle on the field. That’s one of his biggest strengths and it can also be a weakness. During this series, we saw him have individual battles with some of the players, the crowd got under his skin.

“Virat loves the fight, but when you’re not in the form of your life, it’s best to get rid of those things. As a batter, it is to reset every single and realize every ball is an event and just forget about the bowler.

“I think sometimes Virat forgets about that because of his fighting spirit and the nature of the man wanting to be involved and show the whole of India he is there to fight for them.

“The skill, experience and greatness of the guy are not an issue. It’s about the refocus after every single ball. Maybe sometimes he gets too involved.”

READ: West Indies squad reaches Pakistan for Test series

Former South Africa captain and legendary batter AB de Villiers reacted to Babar Azam’s resignation from the white-ball captaincy of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

Babar on Tuesday, stunned the cricket fraternity when he announced that he was stepping down from the role of Pakistan’s white-ball captain with immediate effect.

In a detailed statement, issued on his social media platforms, the right-handed batter shared he made the decision to focus on his “playing role”.

“Dear Fans, I’m sharing some news with you today. I have decided to resign as captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, effective as of my notification to the PCB and Team Management last month,” stated Babar.

“It’s been an honour to lead this team, but it’s time for me to step down and focus on my playing role,” he added.

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Babar Azam termed his time as Pakistan captain a rewarding experience but claimed it added workload for the star batter, who wants to enjoy his batting.

“Captaincy has been a rewarding experience, but it’s added a significant workload. I want to prioritize my performance, enjoy my batting, and spend quality time with my family, which brings me joy.

“By stepping down, I will gain clarity moving forward and focus more energy on my game and personal growth.

“I’m grateful for your unwavering support and belief in me. Your enthusiasm has meant the world to me.

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to continue contributing to the team as a player.

“Thank you for your love and support.”

Meanwhile, South Africa’s batting great AB de Villiers backed Babar Azam’s decision and expressed his hope that the right-handed batter would score more runs after relinquishing the leadership responsibility.

“Congrats. You’ve been great. Now for plenty more runs for your team,” wrote de Villiers in reply to Babar’s retirement post on X, formerly Twitter.

READ: Former pacer believes Kirsten’s report led to Babar’s resignation

Legendary batter AB de Villiers on Friday, predicted the winner of the highly-anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final between South Africa and India.

The former captain acknowledged the challenge Rohit Sharma’s side possesses but insisted that the Proteas have all bases covered and are favourites to clinch their first-ever title.

“The moment of truth has arrived. South Africans have been waiting for 33 years to see the Proteas play in an ICC World Cup final. After so many heartbreaks, we know all about them. South Africa will play India in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados on Saturday and I am backing the Proteas to win. It will be close as we all know India are a team of superstars but I believe South Africa’s time has come,” De Villiers said.

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“This Proteas team brings power. Power at the top order with De Kock, Hendricks, and Markram, power in the middle with Miller, Klaasen, and Stubbs, and power in the pace attack of Jansen, Rabada, and Nortje. Now add the skills of Shamsi and Maharaj, and you’ve all the bases covered. Some will say that they have not produced their best cricket in the tournament so far but they have won eight from eight and that’s not bad,” he added.

“India have their own match-winners of course and they also bring the power of more than a billion people urging them to go out there and win another World Cup. Maybe my heart is ruling my head but I just think it’s South Africa’s time,” AB de Villiers concluded.

India and South Africa will lock horns in the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2024 final at Kensington Oval, Barbados on June 29.

Both teams are unbeaten in the ongoing mega event as South Africa won all their eight matches while India won seven as one of their group-stage fixtures against Canada was abandoned without a ball bowled.

READ: Ricky Ponting has an advice for South Africa ahead of T20 World Cup final