De Villiers Names Asif Among Top 5 He Played Against

Former South African captain AB de Villiers has unveiled his selection of the top five cricketers he competed against, notably including Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif in this distinguished group.

The 40-year-old surprised many by omitting his good friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate, Virat Kohli, from the list.

De Villiers instead offered his reasoning for picking Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar over Kohli, even expressing regret after England spinner Adil Rashid reminded him of the omission.

De Villiers stated, “[Jacques] Kallis, [Andrew] Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, [Shane] Warne and Sachin with the crowds. The reception Sachin received upon entering to bat was unparalleled, bringing everything to a standstill. It was a joy to witness him bat. Sorry Virat, Sachin. That’s why these questions are so difficult to answer.”

Reflecting on the formidable opponents he encountered throughout his celebrated career, the right-handed batsman expressed his respect for some of cricket’s greatest figures, citing those who left a lasting impression due to their talent and character.

He remarked, “Kallis is the premier all-rounder, perhaps even the greatest cricketer ever. Asif was the finest seamer I’ve ever faced. I enjoyed playing against Warne, though I never found it overly challenging. I appreciated his overall persona—the floppy hat, zinc cream, and blonde hair.”

He further added, “Then there was Andrew Flintoff, a performer in significant matches. His yorker to Kallis at Edgbaston remains the best I have ever witnessed.”

De Villiers himself is highly regarded in modern cricket. During his 14-year international career, he achieved significant run-scoring success, maintaining averages of 50.66 in 114 Tests and 53.50 in 228 ODIs for South Africa.

Recently, he led South Africa Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 429 runs across six innings at an impressive strike rate of 220.

Under his guidance, the team secured the championship by defeating Pakistan in the final.

Mohammad Asif’s Pakistan career included 23 Tests, where he captured 106 wickets with an economy rate of 2.99. He also participated in 38 ODIs, claiming 46 wickets at 4.71 runs per over, along with 13 wickets in 11 T20Is at an economy of 8.00.