“Don’t be a coach with an ego and agendas” - AB de Villiers urges South Africa to pick Faf du Plessis for T20 World Cup if he’s good enough 

Former Proteas captain AB de Villiers reckons that South Africa must pick veteran batter Faf du Plessis in their 2024 T20 World Cup squad if he is among the best players available. Urging the selectors to be more open in their approach, he opined that players must not be picked only from domestic cricket.

Du Plessis, 39, has not played a T20I since December 2020. However, he has been in prolific form in various franchise leagues across the globe over the last few years. Several critics reckon that the former national captain should be part of South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad.

In a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, De Villiers was asked for his views on the topic. He replied:

“We’ve covered this before with Rohit [Sharma] and Virat [Kohli] as well. Whoever is the best player for the team to go and win a World Cup, you play him. It’s pretty one-dimensional just to say, ‘no, we just pick from our domestic players and that’s it’.”

Giving the example of the Springboks, who have won back-to-back World Cups, the Proteas legend pointed out that a number of the players from the team play rugby overseas.

“If Faf du Plessis is the best player for the Proteas in the T20 World Cup coming up, pick him. If he’s not, don’t pick him. It’s as simple as that. Follow his progress. Have a look at his passion, his form, his shape. Is he hitting the ball well? Is he playing the best cricket of his life or not. And is he a perfect fit for a No. 3 or No. 4 or opening spot for our team in this World Cup? If the answer is yes pick him,” De Villiers commented.

“Don’t be a coach with an ego and with all kinds of agendas, which I have dealt with so many times in my career, unfortunately,” the former cricketer went on to add.

Du Plessis was recently seen in action in the Abu Dhabi T10 league in December where he represented Samp Army.

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Du Plessis is captaining Joburg Super Kings in SA20

Du Plessis has another chance to stake a claim for a place in South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad in the ongoing SA20. He is leading the Joburg Super Kings in the T20 league.

Joburg Super Kings' first match of the season against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George's Park in Gqeberha on January 10 was abandoned without a ball being bowled. They will take on MI Cape Town at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, January 13.