5 legendary cricketers who will not be playing the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup

The twelfth edition of Cricket's showpiece event, the ICC Cricket World Cup will be hosted by England and Wales in the summer of 2019. Ten teams along with the hosts England will be participating in the mega tournament which will take place from May 30- July 14, 2019. 11 venues are slated to host 48 matches of the Cricket World Cup next year. Over the years, there have been many great players in the history of the game, who have mesmerized the fans with their brilliant display of cricket.

Let us now look at five legendary players whose alst World Cup appearance was at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Fans will surely miss these players when the caravan moves to the United Kingdom next year.

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#1) AB de Villiers (South Africa)

The former South African batsman is arguably one of the most loved cricketers in the world. If winning the hearts is an art, then ABD is the Picasso of it. The Proteas veteran is the proud owner of several batting records. Having made his ODI debut for South Africa in February 2005 against England, he went on to represent his Nation in 228 ODIs in a career spanning 13 years. He represented South Africa in three ICC Cricket World Cups- the 2007 World Cup (West Indies), 2011 World Cup (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) and 2015 World Cup (Australia and New Zealand).

Captaining the South African side, he guided them to the semi-finals at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where they lost eventually lost to the co-hosts, New Zealand by 4 wickets (D/L method). A distraught became emotional after the loss and he found it difficult to control the tears after a disappointing semi-final result. AB de Villiers currently holds the record for the world's fastest ODI half-century (off just 16 balls against the West Indies at Johannesburg in January 2015), century (off just 31 balls against the West Indies at Johannesburg in January 2015) and 150 (off 64 balls against the West Indies at Sydney during the ICC Cricket World Cup in February 2015).

Not just in the ODIs, he also holds the record for the fastest Test century and fastest T20I half-century by a South African batsman. AB de Villiers is someone who could score all over the park and is as rightly regarded as 'Mr.360°' in the cricket circle.He was a treat to watch whenever he entered the pitch with the bat.

Fans all over the world were in a state of shock, when he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on May 23, 2018. None expected this announcement as everyone wanted him to continue until the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. The former Proteas skipper will undoubtedly be missed at the World Cup next year. Though the coveted title eluded him during his wonderful career, he will forever remain a 'legend' of the Gentleman's game. This world will never witness another AB de Villiers.

ODI stats: Matches-228, Runs-9577, Average-53.5, Highest score-176, Catches-176, Stumpings-5

#2) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Kumar Sangakkara

One of the best batsmen of the game has ever seen, the former Sri Lankan wicket keeper batsman made his ODI debut back in July, 2000 vs Pakistan. He represented his Nation in a staggering 404 ODIs, thereby appearing in four ICC Cricket World Cups (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015). Sri Lanka, who made the semi-finals in the 2003 World Cup finished as the runners-up to Australia and India in the next two editions- 2007 and 2011. Sangakkara was one of the best wickets-keepers of his generation with more than 400 catches and nearly 100 stumpings to his name in the ODIs.

Sangakkara, who was the captain of the Sri Lankan side when they co-hosted the tournament in 2011 along with India and Bangladesh led them to the finals where they lost to India by six wickets. In the 2015 World Cup (in Australia and New Zealand), Sangakkara scored centuries in the group matches against Bangladesh, England, Australia and Scotland and thereby became the first ever batsman to hit four consecutive centuries in many innings in ODIs.

Sri Lanka were knocked out in the Quarterfinals against South Africa at the 2015 World Cup under the captaincy of Angelo Mathews. Unfortunately, that turned out to be his last ODI match of his career that spanned 15 years. Sangakkara is not just Sri Lanka's highest run scorer in the ODIs, but also the second highest run-getter of all-time in the ODIs. Fans at the 2019 World Cup will no doubt miss the stylish southpaw, who was one of the 'True Gentleman' of the game.

ODI stats: Matches-404, Runs-14234, Average-41.99, Highest score-169, Catches-402, Stumpings-99

#3) Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum

The former Kiwi wicket keeper batsman was the captain of their side at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, which they co-hosted along with Australia. McCullum, who made his ODI debut back in 2002 against Australia, represented the Black Caps in 260 ODIs that includes four ICC Cricket World Cups (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015). The swashbuckling batsman, took all the three formats by storm with his batting.

He holds the record for the fastest Test century of all time, first New Zealander to score a triple ton in Tests and the first batsman to score two centuries in the T20Is. Also, he scored the IPL's first ever in ton in the very match of the inaugural edition a decade ago. McCullum led New Zealand to their first ever ICC Cricket World Cup final appearance in 2015, where they lost to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In December, he announced his retirement from the ODIs and subsequently from all forms of Cricket in February, 2016. The 2019 World Cup will miss McCullum's entertainment with the bat. Most importantly, the game will miss its Gentleman at the quadrennial event next summer.

ODI stats: Matches-260, Runs-6083, Average-30.41, Highest score-166, Catches-262, Stumpings-15

#4) Michael Clarke (Australia)

Michael Clarke

The former Australian skipper who made his ODI debut back in January 2003 against England, represented the Aussies in three ICC Cricket World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015). Clarke, who won three World Cup titles with Australia represented the Men in Yellow in 245 ODIs, in a career spanning 12 years.

Clarke announced his retirement after guiding Australia to a record fifth ICC Cricket World Cup title at the 2015 World Cup (co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand) in Melbourne. Though the Australians have won five ICC Cricket World Cups so far, Clarke remains to be the only Aussie skipper to have won the title at home. Australia defeated New Zealand in the finals by seven wickets at the colossal MCG on March 29, 2015. The defending champions will miss the player who led them to title at home, when they take the field next year at England.

ODI stats: Matches-245, Runs-7981, Average-44.58, Highest score-130, Wickets-57, Catches-106

#5) Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi

The former Pakistan skipper made his ODI debut back in October 1996 against Kenya. Afridi represented Pakistan in 398 ODIs, thereby appearing in five ICC Cricket World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015). The former all-rounder was the Man of the Tournament at the inaugural ICC World T20 in South Africa, in which Pakistan lost in the finals against India by just five runs. Afridi led Pakistan to the semi-finals at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup where they lost to the eventual winners, India.

He was the joint highest wicket-taker in this tournament with 21 scalps to his name. The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup was the last World Cup for Afridi, who retired from the ODIs after Pakistan's six wicket defeat against the hosts and eventual winners, Australia. He retired from all forms of Cricket in February 2017. The fans at the 2019 World Cup will miss one of the finest all-rounders to have ever graced the game.

ODI stats: Matches-398, Runs-8064, Average-23.58, Highest score-124, Wickets-395, Catches-127