JOHANNESBURG, Feb 17: Senior batsman Faf du Plessis on Monday stepped down as captain of South Africa�s Test and T20 teams with immediate effect, citing �the need to facilitate the emergence of next generation of leaders�.
The 35-year-old Du Plessis, who stepped aside from the ODI captaincy to make way for wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock during the recent series against England, said he took the decision to help South Africa start a new era.
�In a perfect world I would have loved to lead the team in the Tests for the rest of the season as well as the T20 World Cup,� du Plessis said in a statement.
�But sometimes the most important attribute of a leader is to be selfless. I am healthy, fit, energised and motivated and certainly see myself playing an important role in the squad for as long as I continue putting in winning performances for the team,� he added.
�When I took over the leadership, I did so with the commitment to lead, perform and most importantly, to serve. As the team heads into a new direction with new leaders and a young crop of players, I feel it will be in the best interests of South African cricket to relinquish the captaincy in all formats.�
Du Plessis was rested from the three-match T20 series against England which South Africa lost 1-2 on Sunday.
His decision comes less than a week before South Africa�s three-match T20 campaign against Australia, starting here on Friday followed by three ODIs against the same opposition. � PTI
