AB de Villiers names the favourites for the 2019 World Cup

After 20 years, the World Cup is set to be staged in England and Wales. The 50-overs event is set to get underway on Thursday, May 30 and will continue until Sunday, July 14. Among the 10 participating teams, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, England and South Africa are yet to win the championship and they would be looking to get their hands on the coveted trophy.

Australia are the most successful team in the history of the event, having lifted the cup as many as five times. India and Windies have won it twice, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka have emerged victorious once each. In the meantime, 34-year-old former Proteas cricketer AB de Villiers has named the most likely team to win the tournament next time around.

“I think the Proteas are looking good for the World Cup. They have had a great series win against Australia, India and England are the other two teams that I feel have a good shot at the title. The bowlers look exceptional but we will be needing in-form batsmen to travel to England,” de Villiers was quoted as saying in News 18.

He was a part of the last World Cup in Down Under where South Africa progressed to the semi-final against New Zealand, but couldn’t get over the line. Quite expectantly, he ended up teary-eyed after his team’s defeat in the knock-out phase.

I am a very happy man

Back in May this year, the Pretoria-born cricketer hung his boots from international cricket after citing tiredness as a reason. Lately, rumours surrounding him coming out of retirement sparked, but the experienced campaigner mentioned that he’s pretty happy with his family.

“I am extremely happy, I feel a lot of happiness in my heart and that’s important. My relationships with my wife, my kids, my parents, my brothers are the most important things in my life & that’s exceptionally well in the last few years. So, I am a very happy man,” he added.

De Villiers is currently leading the Tshwane Spartans in the inaugural edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL). He scored 59 runs from 30 balls in the Spartans’ first match against Cape Town Blitz, however, it went in vain as his team lost by 49 runs, chasing 181 in 20 overs.

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