AB de Villiers joins Pakistan Super League

[Abdullah719]

Lahore September 7: Pakistan Super League is all set for another thrilling edition with the signing of South African legend AB de Villiers for the 2019 season.

De Villiers, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, brings a stellar record with him. With more than 20,000 international runs to his name, de Villiers is, inarguably, one of the greatest modern-day cricketers to have played the game.

“Pakistan Super League has grown into one of the top T20 tournaments in the world and I’ve really enjoyed watching PSL matches in recent years,” said de Villiers in a video message announcing his signing with PSL.

A supremely athletic fielder and a batsman who can play shots in all possible directions, de Villiers will be one of the star attractions at this year’s PSL Player Draft.

In his video message, the former South African captain also thanked Pakistani cricket fans for their support.

“PSL is a league that has given Pakistan so much to cheer about and I look forward to being on the field once again,” added de Villiers.

Ehsan Mani, Chairman PCB, welcomed AB de Villiers to PSL. “We are delighted with the signing of de Villiers for Pakistan Super League,” said Mani. “He is a modern-day great and he will add immense value to the tournament. His involvement in PSL will also provide great learning opportunities for our youngsters.”

An action packed PSL season four beginning February 2019 awaits you!

[Abdullah719]

BREAKING: The GOAT from South Africa is now a part of PSL! A warm welcome to @abdevilliers17
#ABaurPSL pic.twitter.com/0oiSjPSEOZ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) September 7, 2018

[Abdullah719]

Wow wow wow

Will be thrilling seeing him try to stop LQ from finishing last.

[Arham_PakFan]

Really big signing

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

I read his interview somewhere where he said, he'll play just the IPL and SA domestics, but how did he change his mind?

Anyways, good for PSL and Pakistan cricket.

[ChuckLee]

Fantastic need for PSL! Hopefully Lahore can snap him up

[Hawkeye]

WOW!!!

This is the single biggest positive news ever related to PSL.

Massive, massive, massive boost. He's a potential GOAT LOI player. Great to have him finally join.

Though... this still would mean it's a retired players league.


Need to get Warner and Smith as well.

[Amirforpresident]

Will he be ready to play matches in Pakistan?

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

LQ should have this 11

Fakhar
Devcich f
Mc Cullum * f
Abd V f
Agha Salman
Rohail Nazir + e
S Narine f
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi
S Irshad

[Arham_PakFan]

WOW!!!

This is the single biggest positive news ever related to PSL.

Massive, massive, massive boost. He's a potential GOAT LOI player. Great to have him finally join.

Though... this still would mean it's a retired players league.


Need to get Warner and Smith as well.

Warner and Smith will probably join in as well as their bans will be nearly over and they will need to get into match practice for the World Cup.

[ChuckLee]

LQ should have this 11

Fakhar
Devcich f
Mc Cullum * f
Abd V f
Agha Salman
Rohail Nazir + e
S Narine f
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi
S Irshad

At this point I’d drop baz. He’s finished. Umar Akmal how can you disregard him. His PSL 1 was amazing. Sure PSL 2 was poor but everything around his was as well.

I’d make Afridi captain and bring umar Akmal in for baz and have AB at three Akmal at 4

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Respect went down for AB. Should have played till WC. His country needed him more.

[shebimalik]

Awesome great news

[Pakhs]

Good addition will definitely make who ever team he joins favorites to win the tournament.

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

Good addition will definitely make who ever team he joins favorites to win the tournament.

He was at RCB all these years, and...

[AFM]

Another IPL star who is about to get exposed as a minnow bowling bully

[Pakhs]

He was at RCB all these years, and...

RCB have got poor tactics of putting all their eggs in batting department which they are trying to change recently. But PSL franchise have decent local bowlers so if you got GUN overseas batsmen its a got recipe for success.

[Pakhs]

Another IPL star who is about to get exposed as a minnow bowling bully

His not an IPL star, He is a world STAR!!

[Titan24]

LQ should have this 11

Fakhar
Devcich f
Mc Cullum * f
Abd V f
Agha Salman
Rohail Nazir + e
S Narine f
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi
S Irshad

Bro Rohail Nazir is part of IU, unless they release him LQ cant sign him. However they can go for Umair Masood who is another promising keeper/batsman.

[Titan24]

Another IPL star who is about to get exposed as a minnow bowling bully

He can asjust himself to conditions and bowling attacks and that is why he is considered a modern day legend.

[AFM]

His not an IPL star, He is a world STAR!!

He can asjust himself to conditions and bowling attacks and that is why he is considered a modern day legend.

They said the same thing about Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle

[Pakhs]

They said the same thing about Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle

And you dont know the difference in class between those two and ABD? some posters here just have no knowledge of cricket.

[MenInG]

Welcome to @thePSLt20 my friend @ABdeVilliers17. Look forward to seeing you. The cricket fans in Pakistan love your batting, you'll really enjoy the league. Thank you for opting for PSL! https://t.co/RGZkmlzgBf

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 7, 2018

[shokz1408]

Oh my god that's great news!

[MenInG]

It’s time for @thePSLt20. So, there’s going to be a party in February?#ABaurPSL #psl2019 pic.twitter.com/WPWo1t9ABB

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) September 7, 2018

[Adijazz1706]

Modern day Viv joins the PSL, fans around fine leg, watch out for the ball landing on your heads

[TalhaSyed]

Wow wow wow

Will be thrilling seeing him try to stop LQ from finishing last.

Hahaha this made me LOL at work

[topspin]

Can't wait to see AB in action, lot of batsmen in his PSL side can learn so much from him with the WC coming up.

Would love to see Warner and Smith with all these 3 playing for different sides. Wouldn't be surprised if they were all made captains for their respective teams.

[Hawkeye]

@isbUnited I hear you want to wear Red AB? You are most welcome to join us young man! https://t.co/7Efc7SlfPi

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) September 7, 2018

[Ummii]

So McCullum is unlikely to participate this years PSL. It would be great if Smith and Warner join as well.

[barah_admi]

Great signing but not sure what LQ can do to stop the rot. A better bowling line up maybe? I think they either need pace or a genuine LOI spinner.

[UN talkz]

Will he be ready to play matches in Pakistan?

According to reports he is only available for 7 games.

[Canford Cliffs]

A retired ABDV I may add. If he was still playing internationals, he would hv never chosen PSL/BPL and those kinda leagues

[AFM]

And you dont know the difference in class between those two and ABD? some posters here just have no knowledge of cricket.

Mate my comments were clearly tongue in cheek. Do you honestly believe any Pak fan underestimates the brilliance of AB?

[khan991]

Hopefully fahkhar can come to zalmi now

[Savak]

Appoint someone other than Mccullam as captain for LQ for a start

[saeed5646]

A retired ABDV I may add. If he was still playing internationals, he would hv never chosen PSL/BPL and those kinda leagues

But but he retire to only play ipl Lol a big troll from abd to his fans

BTW please do tell this to kohli and RCB to not buy ABd for such a high price as he is "retired"now

[Snowflake]

Personally, I do not get excited for these T20 mercenaries. I would rather see internationals battle it out in the PSL as they bring in that added context.

I kind of lost a lot of respect for ABD after his retirement and now see him as just another bloke out to make a quick buck.

Having said that, he is an amazing T20 player and will definitely improve the quality of cricket in PSL. Also, I'm hopeful that our players, current and upcoming, can learn from him.

[Hasan123]

Amazing signing. Never though this would happen. ABD could take the PSL to the next level in terms of viewership and sponsorship.

[Slim]

But but ABD was only going to play IPL

[hailian]

LQ should have this 11

Fakhar
Devcich f
Mc Cullum * f
Abd V f
Agha Salman
Rohail Nazir + e
S Narine f
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi
S Irshad

Gulraiz Sadaf you meant right? below are my picks!

Fakhar
Devcich/Delport
Mc Cullum * ©
ABD
Imam ul Haq/Agha Salman
Gulraiaz Sadaf (keeper)
S Narine
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi (emerging)
Suhail Akhter/Raza Hassan/Sadaf Hussain

[Oligochaetes]

The biggest entertainer will arrive...woohoo!

[Naim]

A retired ABDV I may add. If he was still playing internationals, he would hv never chosen PSL/BPL and those kinda leagues

Last year he was playing in cpl and he was getting les money then psl players.

[the_outsider]

He was at RCB all these years, and...

RCB have got poor tactics of putting all their eggs in batting department which they are trying to change recently. But PSL franchise have decent local bowlers so if you got GUN overseas batsmen its a got recipe for success.

He was also at Delhi Daredevils without much success.

[aloo paratha]

Doubt he'll do that well, UAE pitches suck. He may enjoy the pitches in Pakistan if he comes, and well, if Lahore make it.

[Ab Fan]

Lost respect for ABD. Greatness among the eyes of fans and critics was there for taking for ABD. But he seems to be make people remember himself as just a superstar and not the critics man.

Btw, Good news for PSL. He is arguably one of the biggest force as far as T20s are concerned and also among the Asian fans.

[aloo paratha]

Lost respect for ABD. Greatness among the eyes of fans and critics was there for taking for ABD. But he seems to be make people remember himself as just a superstar and not the critics man.

Btw, Good news for PSL. He is arguably one of the biggest force as far as T20s are concerned and also among the Asian fans.

But you're the AB fan!

[Josh]

That's good news for PSL. I am sure he will also visit Pakistan for matches. South Africans are not so nakhrawala in this regard.

[Ab Fan]

But you're the AB fan!

AB fan = Allan Border fan.

I prefer players who are gritty, mentally tough and man for crisis.

[aloo paratha]

AB fan = Allan Border fan.

I prefer players who are gritty, mentally tough and man for crisis.

Ah you're an old timer eh?

[Ab Fan]

Ah you're an old timer eh?

Naah, just for fun purpose!

Many judge me differently though just because of that title there, even though I post as a neutral.

[Adnan_Ilyas]

if he plays for Lahore QalanderI want to see him open with Fakhar Zaman!!

[Sam99]

Knew it he wanted to earn money. He should have quit t20 leagues and kept playing for country instead. Never liked him as person. When you are at the best you should contribute as much as you can for your country and towards end he could still have played t20 leagues.

[TeamPak95]

Low key... I want to see him in LQ and LQ to still finish last just to see everyone's reaction here

[Hedz]

Wow wow wow

Will be thrilling seeing him try to stop LQ from finishing last.

Not necessarily signing for LQ

[Bilal7]

I thought he was "tired"? Should learn something from Amla and Steyn who are still gritting it out for their country.

I have no issues with him trying to make a quick million. However, he shouldn't have lied to the public in his farewell video if that was the case.

However, he might be planning a comeback to the national team and is using these leagues to get back his form and fitness. :

Not necessarily signing for LQ

LQ apparently get the first pick in the draft and they'll obviously pick ABD.

[Abdullah719]

Not necessarily signing for LQ

I had assumed that the draft picks will be decided in the same way as it's happened during the previous seasons. Thankfully it seems that might not be the case.

[MenInG]

Dean Jones says Draft system is different this time so not sure.

[Saj]

A huge coup for the PSL, but let's be honest these players will go where there's money. So I'd rather they cut out the nonsense about how great various leagues are and how great are the franchises they play for.

[hadi123]

Good player but think people are overhyping it. One player doesn't make or break a T20 league. This isn't some sort of 'moral victory' for PSL, if one good player signing produces such a reaction out of people, I can see why people find our fans a laughing stock.

[Kroll]

With a marquee player like AB signing up, might open up the prospect of other A-listers wanting on board that were previously indifferent.

[mp812rediff]

PsL seems like a place retired people like to go and make some easy money

[Bilal7]

PsL seems like a place retired people like to go and make some easy money

Every T20 league is the same: A way for players and administrators to make a quick buck.

[The_Odd_One]

Too tired to play for his country but signing up for multiple T20 leagues?

[ads101]

Too tired to play for his country but signing up for multiple T20 leagues?

Think what he most wanted was to captain SA to a world cup. Kallis had the same dreams he wanted to win the world cup nearing the end of his career. SA have achieved so much in test cricket already now, hence that's really all that's left. AB's not captain anymore, nor does anyone think SA will win it anymore, so think the determination for AB to win it has gone. He might even think that he fed into the "choking mentality", so time to start again. Must be frustrating doing well in nearly every tournament yet he still couldn't get his team past semis.

He had a really poor Champions Trophy too in 2017 so he probably lost hope altogether.

[Executioner]

Great news for PSL

But he should have played the 2019 world cup and then retired.

I am sorry but I don't see adequate logic for Baz Ronchi DeV Trott for retiring early and then keeping on playing every freaking league

[RedwoodOriginal]

LQ should have this 11

Fakhar
Devcich f
Mc Cullum * f
Abd V f
Agha Salman
Rohail Nazir + e
S Narine f
Sohail Khan
Y Shah
S Afridi
S Irshad

Bmac will likely not participate in PSL4

[RedwoodOriginal]

Hearing rumors about Warner and Smith's participation aswell. All three signings could be amazing for the league.

[Hedz]

I had assumed that the draft picks will be decided in the same way as it's happened during the previous seasons. Thankfully it seems that might not be the case.

Rehan Ul Haq and Dean Jones have hinted that there may be a new draft system in place, so Lahore may not have the first pick

[Hedz]

Good player but think people are overhyping it. One player doesn't make or break a T20 league. This isn't some sort of 'moral victory' for PSL, if one good player signing produces such a reaction out of people, I can see why people find our fans a laughing stock.

It’s more cause we haven’t a name as big as AB yet in the PSL, a modern day great
But hopefully this is just the start, I believe they are in talks with Warner and Smith and if those two sign then the overseas batsmen that are playing in the PSL will look much better

[Titan24]

PsL seems like a place retired people like to go and make some easy money

What about Mitchel Johnson, Shane Watson, Brendon Mac just to name a few that are retired and played in IPL. Previously Hayden, Flintoff, Mcgrath, Mich Hussey, David Hussey etc did play IPL when they were retired.

The only reason ABD didnt play earlier in PSL was due to national commitments and hence he took the step of retirement to earn extra money till he is fit enough to play.

[MenInG]

Welcome AB ��

— Shoaib Malik (@realshoaibmalik) September 8, 2018

[mesmerizer85]

I feel with the arrival of AB deviliers in PSL many of our PAK batsmen will get a chance to learn the art of 360 degree batting. It can definitely bring confidence similar to how IPL benefited the Indian batsmen. If Steve Smith was also playing that would have also benefited us. Kindly share your thoughts..

[Bilal7]

Our batsmen cannot learn the "art of 360 degree batsmen" from AB de Villiers just like Messi's teammates cannot learn the art of perfect ball-control and dribbling from him.

These things are not learnt, they are gifts that are only bestowed on a handful.

[jnaveen1980]

You need guys like Dravid to learn.