AB de Villiers revealed he has been asked to lead South Africa but says he will only make an international comeback if he merits a place in the side.

The explosive batsman ended his Proteas career in May 2018 as he had "run out of gas".

Mark Boucher said he would try to tempt De Villiers to return to the international stage after he was appointed as head coach and the 36-year-old stated he would "love" to play for his country again, with the T20 World Cup due to be staged later this year.

Former captain De Villiers says that it has been requested that he not only comes out of retirement, but takes on a leadership role once again..

"The desire is there from my side to play for South Africa, and have been asked by Cricket South Africa to lead the Proteas again," he told Star Sports Cricket Connected.

"The most important thing to me is that I have got to be in top form, and I have got to be better than the player next to me. I

"f I feel I deserve my spot in the side, it becomes much easier for me to feel that I should be part of the playing XI.

"I have not been part of the Proteas for a while, and I feel that it’s important for myself and for other people to see that I am still good enough to be there."

Quinton de Kock took over from Faf du Plessis as South Africa's white-ball captain in January.