Proteas coach Mark Boucher has once again said there is still a chance for AB de Villiers to be part of the Proteas T20 World Cup squad later this year.

Talks between Cricket South Africa and De Villiers have been ongoing since last year as original preparation for the World Cup in Australia began.

But, the postponement of the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant the focus shifted to 2021, with both Boucher and De Villiers admitting last year the door is open for the former Proteas captain to come out of retirement.

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Speaking ahead of Friday’s final T20I between the Proteas and Pakistan, Boucher again elaborated on the negotiations with De Villiers, who is currently in action in the IPL.

‘I did chat to him before he went to the IPL,’ Boucher said.

‘The conversation is still very much open. AB, being the person he is, he wanted to perform very well at the IPL, to prove to himself and everyone else that he is still a very key figure in world cricket and could dominate at that level. I said to him: “Go do your thing, and I’ll give you a shout towards the back end of the IPL”. So that is where we are with him.’

De Villiers called time on his career back in 2018 but appears keen to return to the international stage, although he was adamant to perform well in the respective 2020 and 2021 IPLs first.