CSA boss Lorgat denies AB de Villiers is cherry-picking formats and opponents

Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat says AB de Villiers is not cherry-picking formats and opponents but merely saving himself for what will be an excruciatingly long 2017.

The Proteas ODI captain has declared himself unavailable for the test portion of next month's tour of New Zealand‚ creating fresh doubt about his commitment to the longest format.

While De Villiers will be playing in a List A game for the Northerns amateur side on Sunday‚ it seems clear he will be available for the Sri Lanka ODI series which starts on January 28 at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.

“Firstly AB is not picking and choosing‚" Lorgat said.

"It is a plan that we had six months ago and it's a case of when he starts and when he returns.

"Once he starts‚ there won't be any stopping.

"When you play‚ you'll be playing continuously.

• 'I don’t think De Villiers has played an ODI in six months and he’s still best batsman in the world,' says BehardienAB de Villiers has ruled himself out of South Africa’s test series in New Zealand in March and although he still wants to play the longest format‚ his focus is on white-ball cricket. 

"He's not picking and choosing and there have been deliberate discussions in terms of when he starts.

“ODI cricket is the focus because he's the captain.

"There's no picking and choosing in that regard but with test cricket‚ it's different because he's not the captain and we've got a settled side and we've got the resources.

"If he wasn't the captain of the ODI side‚ it might have been different and that's the same with the T20 side.”

South Africa has a packed 2017 schedule with a full tour of England coupled with the Champions Trophy hot on the heels of the New Zealand tour.

Whether or not De Villiers takes part in the Indian Premier League is still up for debate with the tournament starting on April 5 and ending on May 21.

• AB de Villiers rules himself out of SA's test series in New Zealand in MarchAB de Villiers has ruled himself out of South Africa's test series in New Zealand in March. 

On that day‚ South Africa will be playing a tour match against Northerns ahead of their first ODI against England at Leeds three days later.

The test series will follow after the T20 series and the Champions Trophy‚ where Lorgat is hoping De Villiers will be refreshed for the England challenge.

De Villiers last played a test last year against England where he made a pair at his SuperSport Park home ground.

“What we've tended to do is to take things a series at a time.

"I'm confident by the time we get to the Champions Trophy and the England series‚ he'll be fully fit and raring to go.

• Rabada takes over from Steyn as SA's best bowler on ICC rankings for Test playersKagiso Rabada’s growing reputation as one the best fast bowlers in the world has been further enhanced after he moved to fifth position on the ICC rankings for Test players on Tuesday to become South Africa’s top ranked bowler . 

"Hopefully his appetite will have returned with the amount of time he will have had away from the game.

"Family circumstances do change people but I'm confident England is the type of series he'd want to be available for‚” Lorgat said

“If the team feels they've got a winning formula going‚ AB is fully aware that it's the selectors who'll determine whether they want him back or not.

"Once you step on the playing treadmill‚ there's no turning back.”

- TMG Digital