Faf du Plessis hints at international comeback during Abu Dhabi T10
Ahead of Morrisville Samp Army’s clash with Bangla Tigers in the 2023 edition of Abu Dhabi T10 on Tuesday, veteran batsman Faf du Plessis opened up prospects of a return to international cricket.
Abu Dhabi, December 5: Ahead of Morrisville Samp Army’s clash with Bangla Tigers in the 2023 edition of Abu Dhabi T10 on Tuesday, veteran batsman Faf du Plessis opened up prospects of a return to international cricket.
With India set to tour South Africa for three T20Is in December and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be played just six months away, rumors are doing the rounds that Faf, along with a few other senior players, might return for an international stint.
When asked about this, Faf said during the pre-match interview, “I believe I can return to international cricket too. We’ve been talking about this for the past few years. It’s just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It’s certainly something we’ve talked about with the new coach. Watch this space.”
The 39-year-old remains – despite his age – one of the strongest players in cricket at the moment. Speaking about his training routine, Faf said: “I put in a lot of hard work to make sure I take care of my body so I can play this brilliant game that we love so much. When you get older, you have to make sure you go to work. Otherwise, the hamstrings and other body parts will not work as well. There’s a lot of fast running and there’s a lot of things that get you to a level where you can play against the best players in the world.”
This is the second time the former South Africa captain is participating in the Abu Dhabi T10. Faf’s Morrisville Samp Army retained top position in the rankings after a six-wicket win over Bangla Tigers on Tuesday.
Speaking about his experience in the fastest format of cricket, he said: “It is definitely easier the second time around. The first time I came I thought T20 and T10 are very similar, but that’s not the case. It’s very different. My first year was mainly a learning experience. Now I can plod a little more comfortably from the first ball.”
Faf also added that he finds the Abu Dhabi T10 an exciting tournament as it has proven to be a platform for the development of young talent.
“I think the most exciting thing for me is that there are so many players who surprise you so much. When you play against someone, you haven’t played against someone yet. The effectiveness can happen on any day regardless of the name because the format is so short that you have to be aware of your end game to compete with the skills that are out there,” he signed off.