AB de Villiers has penned a heart-warming tribute to fellow Proteas legend Hashim Amla, who retired from all forms on cricket on Wednesday.
Amla, 39, retired from international cricket after the 2019 World Cup and did not play in South African domestic cricket after the 2018/19 season.
But he continued to be a prolific run-scorer in English county cricket for Surrey, scoring 1 712 runs at an average of 48.91 in his last two seasons.
Surrey announced on Wednesday that they had been informed by Amla that he would not be returning as a player this year after helping the side to win the English county championship in 2022.
Amla was a key member of one of South Africa's most powerful teams when they clinched the Test championship mace with a series win in England in 2012.
Batting in a line-up which included the likes of De Villiers, skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, Amla made a South African record 311 not out in the first Test at The Oval in London. It remains South Africa's only triple century in Tests.
Upon hearing the news of Amla's retirement, De Villiers took to social media to pay tribute to his former team-mate.
De Villiers wrote on Twitter: "Hashim Amla.. where do I start?! Not easy. Might take me a few days, weeks, months, years. I can literally write a book about you. Humaam, thank you for always being there for me. You’ve always been a brother who made me feel safe in so many ways.
"Your journey wasn't easy. 'The guy with the weird technique'. 'He'll never last'. 'He'll never be consistent'.
"But then, in your own very unique way, you just walked out there, time and time again and just batted, like only you can. Calm, composed, consistent, gutsy, skilful and humble, always for the team, for your country. You
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