De Villiers Chooses Mitchell Johnson and Mohammad Asif as Opening Bowlers

LONDON: On Wednesday, former South African skipper AB de Villiers unveiled his all-time World XI, which included former Pakistani pace sensation Mohammad Asif.

De Villiers revealed his selections during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, where he is captaining the South Africa Champions team.

Amidst the six-team tournament, the 41-year-old carefully selected his dream team, comprising some of cricket’s most iconic figures.

De Villiers’ choice of Asif over other prominent fast bowlers underscores his deep respect for the Pakistani bowler’s extraordinary skill in swinging the ball both ways.

The batting lineup features Graeme Smith and Matthew Hayden as the opening pair, with Ricky Ponting batting at number three.

The middle order consists of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson, three of the most dominant batsmen of the modern era. Indian legend MS Dhoni is the designated wicketkeeper at number seven.

In the bowling department, de Villiers paired Mitchell Johnson with Mohammad Asif to lead the attack with the new ball.

The bowling attack is rounded off by legendary spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, providing a balanced combination of pace and spin.

Notably, de Villiers’ XI does not include an all-rounder, resulting in a team with just four specialist bowlers. Glenn McGrath was named as the 12th man. No players from England or the West Indies were included in his selection.

AB de Villiers’ all-time World XI:

Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, MS Dhoni, Mitchell Johnson, Mohammad Asif, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne.

12th man: Glenn McGrath