Publications
Partners
Cape Town - AB de Villiers has withdrawn from the Proteas T20 squad for the T20 International series against New Zealand.
De Villiers put in a request to Proteas Team Management asking to be excused from the series.
“It’s been an exhausting few months and I feel that I need some extra rest before the Test series,” De Villiers explained.
“It’s for this reason that I have put in the request and I’m grateful to the Proteas team management for supporting this decision.”
“AB is obviously an important part of our set-up and while we would’ve loved him to be part of the T20 series, we also need him fully fit and energised for the remainder of the summer,” said Proteas T20 coach, Russell Domingo.
Cape Cobras captain, Justin Ontong, has been called up as De Villiers’ replacement and will join the squad in Durban after the SA 'A' T20 warm up match against the Black Caps.
National Convenor of Selectors, Andrew Hudson said: “Justin has been in our limited overs plans for some time now and he has underlined his worth during the recent Momentum One Day Cup when he excelled as a finisher for the Cape Cobras. As we all know he is also an outstanding fielder with his direct hits and a more than useful spin bowler.
“We are fortunate to have a player of his calibre to replace AB and the loss of one is certainly an opportunity for the other.”
The first T20 International between South Africa and New Zealand will be played at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, December 21.
De Villiers put in a request to Proteas Team Management asking to be excused from the series.
“It’s been an exhausting few months and I feel that I need some extra rest before the Test series,” De Villiers explained.
“It’s for this reason that I have put in the request and I’m grateful to the Proteas team management for supporting this decision.”
“AB is obviously an important part of our set-up and while we would’ve loved him to be part of the T20 series, we also need him fully fit and energised for the remainder of the summer,” said Proteas T20 coach, Russell Domingo.
Cape Cobras captain, Justin Ontong, has been called up as De Villiers’ replacement and will join the squad in Durban after the SA 'A' T20 warm up match against the Black Caps.
National Convenor of Selectors, Andrew Hudson said: “Justin has been in our limited overs plans for some time now and he has underlined his worth during the recent Momentum One Day Cup when he excelled as a finisher for the Cape Cobras. As we all know he is also an outstanding fielder with his direct hits and a more than useful spin bowler.
“We are fortunate to have a player of his calibre to replace AB and the loss of one is certainly an opportunity for the other.”
The first T20 International between South Africa and New Zealand will be played at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, December 21.
