AB de Villiers, the former South Africa batsman, has reportedly penned a deal with Middlesex for T20 Blast 2019.

Cricbuzz reported on Sunday, February 24, that the batsman, who announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2018, is set to join the Lord’s-based club, with an official announcement expected later this week.

De Villiers is currently with Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League in UAE. He recently showed he is still at the peak of his batting powers, smashing an unbeaten 52 off just 29 deliveries, taking his side past the finish line after peppering three boundaries and as many sixes.

Middlesex struggled in the T20 Blast last season, languishing at the bottom of the table with just four points in 14 games. De Villiers’ arrival will be a definite boost for the club ahead of the 2019 edition.

The 35-year-old has played an astounding 272 T20 games in his career, scoring 7316 runs at an average of 35.86 and strike-rate over 148. He also has 48 half-centuries and four centuries in the shortest format of the game.