AB de Villers, considered one of the best limited-overs players in the modern era, will not be playing the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and also because he is all set to become a father for the third time. AB de Villiers played in the Big Bash League for the first time last year and he had a fairly consistent run.
AB de Villiers is currently having a magnificent time in IPL 2020 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 11 games, he has scored over 350 runs at an average of 54 and a strike-rate of 174. His performances have helped Royal Challengers Bangalore maintain the third spot in IPL 2020 and for the first time, Virat Kohli’s team looks good to break their jinx in the IPL. However, while AB de Villiers is determined to push for excellence in the Indian Premier League, the ace South Africa star will not be participating in the Big Bash League 2020/21 for the Brisbane Heat. There are several factors, which include the coronavirus pandemic and being away from family. However, there is a special reason for AB de Villiers not playing the Big Bash League this season.
“The main one, aside from the challenges represented by COVID-19 and international travel, is that AB and his wife Danielle are expecting their third child very soon. He has been in excellent touch in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, so he obviously remains a player we`d like to keep working with when the circumstances allow,” Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann said.
Big Bash success
However, both Brisbane Heat and AB de Villiers are keen to resume their partnership once conditions are favourable for his return. In a statement issued by AB de Villiers, he said, “With a young, growing family, and the uncertainty around travel and conditions due to COVID19, we reluctantly decided it wasn’t going to be this season. I am very open to returning to the club in the future. The team didn`t get the results we were hoping for and I consider there is some unfinished business to deal with,” de Villier said.
Brisbane have retained the services of Afghan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman for this year’s tournament, which begins on Dec. 3. In the previous edition of the Big Bash League, de Villiers scored 146 runs in six innings and had a strike-rate of 140 with his highest score being 71. The tournament was won by the Sydney Sixers who defeated the Melbourne Stars by 19 runs in a rain-affected game.
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