The Big Bash League could be in line for perhaps the biggest marquee signing in its history with South African superstar AB de Villiers interested in wielding the willow Down Under in the 2019-20 season.
De Villiers is understood to be on the lookout for a BBLclub in the back half of next summer’s tournament, with a number of clubshaving been approached by the master batsman’s management.
At this point, it is believed several clubs have showninterest in his potential recruitment.
The 35-year-old bowed out of international cricket lastApril but remains one of the world’s most sought-after commodities on the T20circuit, with his revolutionary batting skills in the one-day formattransferring seamlessly into the game’s shortest format.
In the ongoing Indian Premier League tournament, de Villiershas been in superb touch, passing fifty in four of his past seven innings forRoyal Challengers Bangalore, where he plays alongside Kohli.
The signature of the Proteas legend, who is considered amongboth the best and most entertaining players of his generation, would representa major coup for any Big Bash club.
A quick look at his numbers in the IPL underlines the kindof impact he could have: in that tournament’s history, he and West Indian ChrisGayle are the only two players to strike in excess of 150 while averaging morethan 40.
“De Villiers is someone I’ve really looked up to,” Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell told cricket.com.au last year. “He’s true entertainment.” Agencies