People’s expectation is nothing new to me: de Villiers
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|| CF Correspondent ||
Defending champions Rangpur Riders AB de Villiers said on Friday that he is optimistic about their chances of playing the knock out stages in the Bangladesh Premier League.
Riders are going through some tough times in the BPL with two wins from six games and need to pull up their socks to immediately to make sure they avoid any kind of unexpected embarrassment in the tournament.
AB joined the Riders squad on Thursday to play six matches for Riders who are expecting him to be crucial figure behind turning their fortunes as some of their leading stars are yet to blaze as expected.
‘’If we can get bit of a run going towards the latter stages of the tournament, the last six games in the pool stage, hopefully we do qualify for the knockouts,’’ Villiers told reporters ahead of joining Riders training session at the Sylhet District Stadium on Friday.
‘’I haven’t played for them yet. Hopefully I will be playing my first game tomorrow, if selected. But it is a fantastic squad when looking at the names. It is a really well balanced team. I know the Rangpur Riders have had some success in the past,’’ he said.
Villiers, 34-year-old, who had quit international cricket this year, added that he is well aware of the expectations and added that he is looking forward to meet them along with fulfilling his own expectations as well.
“It motivates me to go out and play well,’’ said Villiers.
‘’I have expectations throughout my career, so it is nothing new to me. The game of cricket is up and down,’’ he said.
‘’You can’t perform every game. I am also realistic about the sport. I don’t expect too much of myself. But I do expect some fireworks from time to time,’’ he said.
Villiers said that he is well aware of the turning wicket that he is expected to get in BPL and added that he is prepared to take up the challenge in the upcoming days for Riders.
Villiers is expected to play six matches for Riders in the tournament.
“The wicket is always good. You get some that turn a little bit. I don’t mind. I have always enjoyed wickets that turn a bit, and then you get some good wickets as well.
‘’I have seen our last game against Sylhet. The wicket played pretty well. Hoping for that again tomorrow,’’ he said adding that he is prepared to play the switch hit much like Warner if it turns out to be the demand of the day.
Sylhet Sixers Warner played three balls changing his usual left-hand stance against Riders Chris Gayle to create quite a buzz during their game against at the Sylhet International Stadium.
‘’I have played switch hits in the past, especially in the last tournament in South Africa. I have played it pretty well. It is not something I play too often. When the time arrives and you feel it is necessary, then it is a shot that I might pull out but it is definitely not part of my basics for sure,’’ he said.
Villiers said that he came to play BPL, country’s lone franchise-based Twenty20 competition, to get some games under his belt while added that the standard and competitiveness of the tournament played a big part behind joining Riders in tournament.
“I have played a bit of cricket in the Mzansi League in South Africa. You can call it the start of my new season. I have to stay fit and busy,’’ said Villiers.
‘’I love coming to Bangladesh. I haven’t been here for a while. We got a really nice team in the Rangpur Riders. We haven’t played as of yet, but hoping to turn it around and finish well in the tournament,’’ he said.
“I have heard good things about it. I have guys at the IPL what it’s like, and they said quality of cricket is fantastic. It is a tournament that’s growing from strength to strength every year. I am very happy to be part of it this year,’’ he added
