AB de Villiers will be left to play his natural game unhindered by any captaincy obligations ahead of the 2019 Mzansi Super League.

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The second edition of the MSL, which starts on 8 November, will see De Villiers vacate his role as skipper of the Tshwane Spartans.

Coach Mark Boucher confirmed that he is on the lookout for a new captain in a squad that boasts talent like Dean Elgar, Wiaan Mulder, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Heinrich Klaasen to add to the skills brought by Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi, Theunis de Bruyn and Tom Curran.

‘AB won’t be captain, we’ve discussed that,’ said Boucher.

‘He’s a fantastic player but he must go out there and play and perform like he’s been performing in the last while.’

The former Proteas wicketkeeper is keen to free De Villiers up for the new campaign.

‘We have a few leadership options, we’ll talk to them and see how they feel.

‘I don’t think AB needs that burden, he’s in that stage of his life where he must enjoy his cricket and that’s probably when he plays at his best.’

As with all the squads the Spartans can make an additional ‘wild card’ pick after the domestic Provincial T20 Knockout Challenge that will be played between 13 and 23 September.  

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Tshwane Spartans squad:  AB de Villiers, Tom Curran, Lungi Ngidi, Theunis de Bruyn, Lutho Sipamla, Tony de Zorzi, Morne Morkel, Heinrich Klaasen, Roelof van der Merwe, Pite van Biljon, Waqar Salamkheil, Dean Elgar, Wiaan Mulder, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Corbin Bosch.

Photo: Gallo Images