Former Punjab Kings pacer Parvinder Awana put up a bizarre and what many considered insulting tribute to the great AB de Villiers on the latter’s retirement from the IPL late last year.
After the IPL 2021, which was completed in the UAE, AB de Villiers retired from all forms of the game, including the IPL, ending his long-time associated with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the league.
One of the most loved overseas players in India, de Villiers finished with 5162 runs at an average of 39.71, with a strike rate of 151.69 and slammed 3 hundreds in the IPL. The 37-year-old, however, retired without an IPL trophy. He took up to his social media handles to announced his retirement.
“It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket,” AB de Villiers wrote in his post.“Ever since the backyard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly.”
It has been an incredible journey, but I have decided to retire from all cricket.
Ever since the back yard matches with my older brothers, I have played the game with pure enjoyment and unbridled enthusiasm. Now, at the age of 37, that flame no longer burns so brightly. pic.twitter.com/W1Z41wFeli
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 19, 2021
AB de Villiers had retired from international cricket in 2018 and had been plying his trade in T20 leagues. He went out with a total of 9424 T20 runs, which he scored in 320 innings while playing for a number of teams around the world.
Wishes started to pour in huge numbers for one of the greatest ever batters in the IPL; for some, he was the best batsman to have played in the league.
Parvinder Awana’s insult to AB de Villiers:
Among all, there came one strange post from Parvinder Awana, who played two T20Is for India in 2012.
Awana, who picked 39 wickets in 33 IPL matches, uploaded a 12-second clip, in which he dismissed de Villiers during a game between Punjab and Bangalore held at Bengaluru in 2013. He knocked over the South African’s stumps as AB failed to connect with his shot on the leg side after moving across his off-stump.
“Thank you @ABdeVilliers17 for your contribution to cricket,” Awana captioned the video.
Thank you @ABdeVilliers17 for your contribution to cricket. pic.twitter.com/orFEXsFjnB
— Parvinder Awana (@ParvinderAwana) November 19, 2021
Fans were really angry at Awana and slammed him for this post on de Villiers’ retirement.
Here are some of the replies from angry fans:
He is such a big player who has been a great ambassador of the game. Kam se kam uski nahin to apne khel ki to izzat kar lo.
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) November 19, 2021
Imagine Raina wishing him on his birthday with this video
pic.twitter.com/cygwmNbPwp
— Ryan (@ryandesa_07) November 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/141Adelaide_/status/1461662138359971846
Pehle ye bata tu hai kon
— ` (@bccinl) November 19, 2021
