AB De Villiers Opens Up On Retirement Controversy, Says He

In a detailed statement, De Villiers gave his side of the story after he was criticised for picking and choosing international assignments after announcing his retirement last year.

"I made absolutely no demands at all. I certainly did not try to force my way into the World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament, and did not expect to be included. There was no burning issue from my side, and no sense of injustice," said one of the modern greats who played 114 Tests and 228 ODIs.

In the middle of South Africa's World Cup campaign, a media report had claimed that the 35-year-old had offered to come out of retirement a day before the squad for the event was to be picked but the team management rejected it.