Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had a critical message about the AB de Villiers saga, stating that he ‘chose money over his country.’

He released his statement on Youtube.

‘Firstly, people must not forget that there was pressure on AB de Villiers to leave IPL and PSL contracts and make himself available for the World Cup. However, he chose the IPL and PSL, announced an early retirement and recused himself from the World Cup,’ said Akhtar in his video uploaded on Friday.

‘So basically everything started with finance,’ said Akhtar. ‘I think when he took this decision, he did it looking at his finances and economics.

‘The timing of this revelation raises serious questions. South Africa was in poor form even when he had announced his retirement a year before the World Cup.

‘But I think he should have remembered [at that point] that his country needs him. The money will come today or tomorrow but you the call of making money and ignore the World Cup.

‘I don’t mind people making money but do it in the right way. If you indeed have to make money then pick and chose correctly but keep your country as the priority.

‘Now to clear your name you made a last-ditch offer to come out of international retirement for this summer’s World Cup. But I think the management was correct in their stand.’

‘Now, this statement of wanting to play for South Africa a month before the World Cup is just a gimmick and it is just about clearing his name. He made a bad move by retiring early and secondly when you retired then stick to your decision now,’ he added.

‘Forget about your country. Now your country is down and out because of you. Had you been there in the middle-order for South Africa then maybe they would not have performed so badly in the World Cup and who knows they could have also scripted a turnaround.

‘It’s very sad that you have chosen money over your country.’