Australian Big Bash clubs are said to be preparing offers for AB de Villiers, following his retirement from international cricket.

The superstar batsman showed in the recent IPL that he is in peak T20 form, and the Big Bash clubs know that he would be an immediate high-impact drawcard.

While De Villiers was emphatic in his retirement statement that he is not quitting international cricket for financial reasons, and that he was just plain ‘tired’, come December he may just be up for a return, although the BBL has expanded to a full home-and-away 59-game season.

According to Cricket.com.au writers, several clubs have already signed their overseas players, but all would be in the running if De Villiers chose to be a replacement player.

One such club is the Brisbane Heat, who may lose Shadab Khan to the Pakistan tour to South Africa. Their coach, Daniel Vettori, is also the coach of De Villiers’ IPL team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The Perth Scorchers last season opted for just one international in England all-rounder David Willey, and the club is highly secretive about their contract list, making it difficult to gauge their potential to make a play for De Villiers, said Cricket.com.au

The Renegades last year had Dwayne Bravo and Mohammad Nabi, but have yet to confirm either for BBL|08, among rumours the club had parted ways with Bravo.

The Stars have two vacancies on their books, following the retirement of Kevin Pietersen and the de-listing of Luke Wright.

The Sydney Thunder are expected to court Jamaican Andre Russell heavily for a return to the club this summer, but that has not been confirmed, while their second international spot remains wide open.