Faf du Plessis denies AB de Villiers’ involvement with the Proteas for the World Cup as part of the management or coaching team.

The 34-year-old retired from all international cricket in May 2018, but with De Villiers being labelled as a ‘Proteas marquee player’ by CSA for the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20 tournament, suggestions about De Villiers’ return in green and gold have emerged on social media.

Rumours heated up with a bold article from CrickTracker. 

According to the reports, AB de Villiers will take a final call on his international retirement in January next year. https://t.co/1U88MgIi1W

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 22, 2018

There have also been suggestions that De Villiers could form part of the management team and not as a player.

Du Plessis, who is preparing for a limited-overs away tour to Australia, ‘poured cold water’ over the rumours as stated on Netwerk 24.

‘If we wanted him involved in some capacity in the group then it would be as a player. It won’t make sense for me to just have AB as part of the management or coaching team. There is in any case enough members in our management team. To only have AB there to throw balls won’t suffice.’

Photo: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images