World Cup drama burns Faf and AB friendship – report
Apparently the retired De Villiers' mixed signals on a comeback could've been a ploy to undermine his great friend's captaincy.
AB de Villiers of South Africa and Faf du Plessis (capt) of South Africa acknowledges Kagiso Rabada of South Africa after 2nd Sunfoil Test match between South Africa and Australia at St Georges Park on March 12, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Since their playing days at school, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis have had a famously close friendship.
That relationship is now apparently on the rocks as the fallout from the De Villiers World Cup selection saga continues.
According to the Sunday Times, the two men are now on “poor terms”.
The publication quotes two sources with inside knowledge on the duo’s relationship, with one suggesting but not confirming that De Villiers’ continued mixed signals about returning from international retirement could’ve been a ploy to undermine Du Plessis’ captaincy.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Proteas confirm AB’s World Cup offer was turned down
“AB really likes to be the centre of attention,” one source was quoted as saying.
“Faf then also became loved in SA as our new captain. Not sure ‘Abbas’ liked that. There’s a wrong perception that they are close. Maybe they were a couple of years ago, but they haven’t been for a while.”
Du Plessis and Proteas coach Ottis Gibson were, according to an earlier official statement from Cricket South Africa, the individuals whom De Villiers apparently reached out to about a possible return.
They then relayed the message to the national selectors.
“At no point did Ottis and Faf want AB in the team. They simply relayed the message to Linda,” a CSA spokesperson told the paper.
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