De Villiers' international retirement is now 'final', confirm South Africa

AB de Villiers will not be making a comeback with South Africa after negotiations over a potential return did not end in an agreement.

 
 

Former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers will not be making a return to international cricket.

De Villiers has not been named in any of the Proteas' squads to face West Indies and Ireland next month.

After talks about a potential comeback ahead of the World Twenty20 concluded, no agreement was reached and the 37-year-old's retirement is now final.

"AB de Villiers finalises [his] international retirement," read a statement from Cricket South Africa on Tuesday.

"Discussions with AB de Villiers have concluded with the batsman deciding once and for all that his retirement will remain final."

De Villiers had also been linked with a comeback before the 2019 Cricket World Cup, but ended up not being selected after making a last-gasp offer to play in the tournament.

The veteran last played for South Africa in a Test match against Australia back in March 2018.

He played in 114 Tests for the Proteas and scored 8,765 runs at an average of 50.66, with 22 centuries as well as taking 222 catches, 101 of those as a wicketkeeper.

De Villiers was even more impressive in the ODI format, averaging 53.50 and racking up 25 hundreds in 228 appearances, while he also played in 78 T20Is.

South Africa will play two Tests and five T20Is against West Indies before three ODIs and three T20Is against Ireland.

Six uncapped players were named in the Test squad: Prenelan Subrayen, Lizaad Williams, Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Sarel Erwee and Marco Jansen.

Dean Elgar will lead the 19-man squad for the first time as permanent Test skipper after replacing Quinton de Kock.