News that Cricket South Africa refused an offer from their second-highest ODI run-scorer to reverse his international retirement has left the authorities under scrutiny, given the Proteas’ record of three defeats from their opening three matches.

Selection convener Linda Zondi said “morals and principles” were behind the decision to ignore de Villiers’ offer, continued talk of which appeared to rile head coach Gibson when he faced the media in Southampton on Saturday.

“Are we going to talk about this all the time?” Gibson said. “Or are we going to prepare for the West Indies game?”

“Personally I suspect there are a lot of people wanting AB to be here more than AB himself…I can’t recall in recent history a team picking a guy that’s retired.”