Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has reiterated new head coach Mark Boucher’s willingness to invite batsman AB de Villiers out of T20I retirement.

Boucher was appointed last week – and expressed interest in including De Villiers in South Africa’s squad for next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

De Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018 and has since been competing in T20 domestic leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League. He will play in Australia’s Big Bash League early next year.

‘People want AB to play and I am no different. Those conversations have been happening two or three months ago. Obviously Test cricket is the most important thing right now but T20 cricket is a different beast,’ AFP quoted Du Plessis as saying.

‘It’s not a lot of time away from home. Obviously with a full campaign you have to spend a lot of time on the road. The T20 World Cup is not too far away and there isn’t a long list of T20 Internationals over the season.

‘Those conversations have taken place and they will take place before the next T20 International series starts.’

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De Villiers was part of the Tshwane Spartans’ 2019 Mzansi Super League campaign, which ended in defeat to Du Plessis’ Paarl Rocks in Monday’s final at Boland Park.

‘The standard of the MSL was very good and it’s important that we make sure this is a big priority for South African cricket,’ added Du Plessis.

‘You don’t see that in a lot of tournaments where all your internationals are playing. Guys are bowling at AB and it doesn’t get better than that.’

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