Hurricanes chasing AB for BBL 8

Cricket365
August 19, 2017

The Hobart Hurricanes have declared that they are intent on securing the services of Proteas skipper AB de Villiers for the eighth edition of the Big Bash League.

It has been reported this week that the Sydney Thunder are tapping up the dynamic batsman for a stint in BBL 7.

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins chased De Villiers for the Thunder during his time in Sydney but having made the move to Hobart he is eager to get one of the world’s best to Tasmania for the 2018/19 edition of the T20 showpiece.

Cummins said: “I’ve been talking to his manager for the past two years while at the Thunder, so we just change the colour of that conversation and continue those conversations.”

The CEO is hopeful that new coach Gary Kirsten will give the Hurricanes the edge in landing the big fish.

Kirsten coached De Villiers during his time as Proteas head coach and that familiarity may tip the scales in the Hobart outfit’s favour.

He added: “We’ve obviously got an inside running with Gary Kirsten. I’ve had a chat with Gary and he’s going to sound out AB as well.

“There’s an existing relationship with AB there, and I think we are as good a chance as any team.”

Cummins said he would be surprised if De Villiers turned out in BBL 7 given how close the tournament is and the kind of salary Mister 360 would command.

He went on: “I would be surprised if AB played Big Bash this summer.

“It would be difficult to have the amount of money that he would command remaining in your salary cap so late into the piece.

“Certainly from a salary cap perspective next year, he’s a player that we would be able to afford to get.

“If the Thunder get him this season, then well done. They better make sure they keep him happy because we will certainly be having a chat with him next year.”