Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
AB de Villiers opts out of BBL 2020; third child on the way | AB de Villiers will not play in this year’s Big Bash League due to family reasons
AB de Villiers, South African superstar and one of the all-time greats, was signed by Brisbane Heat last year with much aplomb. However, the South Africa batsman has opted out of BBL 2020. Considering the current Covid-19 situation, coach Darren Lehmann declared that AB and his wife Danielle are expecting their third child.
AB is currently playing for in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, and so far the team has scored 14 points from seven wins. “Naturally we’re very pleased for them and know that the next few months will be a very special time for all. We’ll stay in contact and see what develops. He has been in excellent touch in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, so he obviously remains a player we’d like to keep working with when the circumstances allow”, says coach Lehmann according to the reports in ESPNCricinfo.
Brisbane Heat has re-signed Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman after a successful CPL year. “He was outstanding in the Caribbean Premier League recently when he was the second leading wicket-taker in the competition, and he’s shown in the IPL that he can handle the very best. We’re very pleased to have him back with us and with the BBL schedule potentially looking quite different to the usual format, his versatility and ability to create chances in a range of conditions will be very important for us.”
Mujeeb will play third season for the Heat while he is also playing for the Kings XI Punjab in the current IPL 2020. The right-arm off break bowler has a record of picking up 16 wickets with an economy of 5.29. “He’s doing a lot of the little things as well as anyone, and his control and maturity have gone to a new level, I believe. We’re very pleased to have him back with us and with the BBL schedule potentially looking quite different to the usual format, his versatility and ability to create chances in a range of conditions will be very important for us”, Lehmann said.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
