Former South African captain Graeme Smith has detailed the value countryman AB de Villiers will bring to the Pakistan Super League.

De Villiers retired from international cricket last year – and is currently playing for the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. He was with the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this month, and will return to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2019 Indian Premier League.

‘It’s fantastic that AB has been able to put his weight behind Pakistan cricket. Look, there has been tough competition in this PSL. These players will learn from AB, who has been able to capture the imagination of cricket fans all around the world with the way he plays his cricket,’ Smith told the tournament’s official website.

‘It’s great to have someone like him. It’s good that there are players who bring a good name to this event and creates credibility for the competition, and the next things is that AB scores big somewhere in the competition. But his presence will help youngsters learn a lot of things, from playing to work ethics.’

Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and batsman Babar Azam toured South Africa with Pakistan earlier this year and are currently playing for the Qalandars and Karachi Kings respectively.

‘For me, having watched Pakistan playing in South Africa for the last two months, it’s real excitement around some of the talent that you have, particularly Babar and Shaheen, who stood out,’ added Smith.

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