UAE T20x 'icon player' David Miller quits South African first-class cricket to focus on World Cup

Miller, 29, jointly holds record for fastest T20 international century off 35 balls and is regular in Proteas limited-overs teams

South Africa batsman David Miller has been one of their most important players in limited-overs cricket. Reuters

Hard-hitting middle-order batsman David Miller has quit first-class cricket in a bid to concentrate on his limited-overs game ahead of next year's World Cup in England and Wales.

Miller, 29, jointly holds the record for the fastest Twenty20 international century off 35 balls and is a regular in South Africa's limited-overs teams.

The middle-order batsman, who signed up as an 'icon player' for the inaugural season of the upcoming UAE T20x tournament, said he would rather focus on "the format I love".

"It was a tough decision to make," Miller said on Tuesday.

Miller commits to UAE T20x

"I have decided that I would, in future, like to concentrate on white ball cricket to make sure that I am in a position to give myself the best opportunity to play for the Proteas in the format that I love.

"This is an important decision for me, especially with the World Cup looming next year."

Miller added he would play domestic limited-overs cricket this season for the Durban-based Dolphins.

"I will be available to play for the Dolphins in all limited-overs competitions and will give it my all to help them win trophies this season," he added.

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Miller has scored 3,342 runs in 63 first-class matches, averaging 36.32 with six centuries and 19 half-centuries.

The left-handed batsman has not been capped at Test level, but CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe is hopeful that he will make himself available in first-class cricket in the future.

"It is disappointing to lose David from our pool of potential Test players," Moroe said. "At the age of 29 he still has many years of good cricket left in him in all formats but at the same time we have to understand that he wants to throw his full weight into helping the Proteas to win the ICC World Cup.

"He has time on his hands to resume his first-class career in due course, and I sincerely hope that we have not seen the last of him in red-ball cricket where he has shown his undeniable talents in the past."