'I respect AB, but I don't agree'

12 May 2017 - 09:31 By Telford Vice
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Faf du Plessis of the Proteas. File photo.
Faf du Plessis of the Proteas. File photo.
Image: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

South Africans should ready themselves for multiple retirements after the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

That's according to Faf du Plessis in an interview with the South African edition of the May issue of GQ.

"We have discussed our long-term goals and the aim is to get back to being the No1 Test team in the world," Du Plessis told the magazine.

"We also want to win the Test championship and reach the final of next year's T20 World Cup because once you reach a final it becomes anyone's game.

"And a number of the senior players and I want to win the 2019 World Cup to end our international careers in style."

Du Plessis doesn't say which other players might retire then, but of the squad of 15 that will play in the Champions Trophy in England next month, only a third - Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller and Quinton de Kock - will be under the age of 30 for the 2019 World Cup.

Of the decision by longtime friend, AB de Villiers, to miss South Africa's Test series against New Zealand, England and Bangladesh, he said: "I can't sit and say he should be playing Test cricket because the guy has been doing it for 12 years and 106 Tests.

"I fully respect AB's decision but I don't agree with it."

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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