AB de Villiers to play Everest Premier League in Nepal

South African batting star AB de Villiers has confirmed his availability for the upcoming season of the Everest Premier League in Nepal. 

The organizers had tried to bring him to the tournament last year as well. However, the two parties could not come to an agreement. The organizers had announced the blockbuster arrival of West Indian star Chris Gayle in the Everest Premier League. 

Unfortunately, the inaugural EPL season got cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what EPL Pvt Ltd Managing Director Aamir Akhtar told cricketingnepal.com about AB de Villiers:

“We are trying our best to bring top international cricketers for EPL to put Nepal in the frame of global cricket. We had tried to bring AB de Villiers previous season as well but he couldn’t be available. This edition he has agreed to be here. If nothing comes in between, he will be playing at the TU grounds for sure.”

The Everest Premier League 2021 will take place from September 26 to October 9. The Pokhra Rhinos had signed Gayle in the previous year, but AB de Villiers’ franchise has not been decided yet. 

I think every franchise will run behind a player like AB de Villiers: Kishor Maharjan 

Apart from the Pokhra Rhinos, there are Bhairahawa Gladiators, Lalitpur Patriots, Chitwan Tigers, Biratnagar Warriors and Kathmandu Kings XI in the competition. Here’s what Lalitpur Patriots owner Kishor Maharajan told about AB de Villiers:

“I think every franchise will run behind a player like AB de Villiers. We know other teams are also trying to get him like us. We are hoping to rope him into our franchise.”

AB de Villiers will play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League. It will be interesting to see if de Villiers could help the RCB franchise end its title drought.