De Villiers Slams Racial Quota Talk Overshadowing South Africa's T20 World Cup Squad Selection

Former South African cricket star AB de Villiers has criticized the focus on racial quotas in team selection, particularly ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.  

De Villiers expressed frustration that discussions surrounding race were dominating the pre-tournament buzz for the South African team. "[It's] a shame going into a tournament to have the focus on that," he said in a recent interview [India Today]. 

The comment comes after Cricket South Africa received criticism for having just one Black African player, Kagiso Rabada, in their final 15-member T20 World Cup squad. De Villiers acknowledges this isn't a new issue, stating, "it's nothing new, it's just a shame." 

He's glad to be retired and avoid the controversy this time around. "Luckily this time around, I've had nothing to do with anything over there. I'm just a spectator," he remarked.

South Africa has a complex history with race, and this topic frequently sparks debate around team selection. With the World Cup approaching, this discussion takes center stage, putting pressure on a team already known to struggle in high-stakes situations.