South Africa captain Faf du Plessis on Wednesday gave a hint that batting legend AB de Villiers could possibly make a return to the national side prior to the ICC World T20. The mega event is scheduled to take place in Australia later this year. A few days ago AB de Villiers, who retired from all forms of international cricket in 2018, reached Australia to make his debut in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). There he shared his desire to make a return.

Previously he had tried to come out of his retirement ahead of the ICC World Cup last year, making himself available for selection. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) selectors felt that would not justice with the other players.

While speaking on the eve of South Africa’s third Test against England, du Plessis said: “It’s the same as what I mentioned before. We spoke and I was very keen to have him back even before the new coaching staff was on board.”

“It was a process of what does the next year look like in terms of T20 cricket,” he further added.

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The South Africa captain said that de Villiers too wants to return in the circuit, however, the time was not yet known to him when the batsman can be there in the middle.

“How many games, where, when, what? And then try to unfold that in a way that he can come back. He’s keen to come back. I don’t know when,” said du Plessis. “In an ideal world, we would like to make sure we can play our best 11, 12, 13 players for a few games or in a few series leading up to a T20 World Cup.”

In 78 T20Is, AB de Villers has so far scored 1672 runs, averaging 26.12 with a strike rate of 135.16. He had last appeared in a T20I game against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom on October 29, 2017. He is currently playing for Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Big Bash League.