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De Villiers returns to lead one-day side

Decorated South Africa batsman set to make his international return against Sri Lanka

South Africa have recalled fit-again batsman AB de Villiers to captain their one-day international side in the five-match home series against Sri Lanka.

The selectors also handed a first call-up in this format to 20-year-old fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and all-rounder Chris Morris returns after an injury lay-off for the series starting in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

De Villiers has not played international cricket since June after an elbow injury, but is in line to return for the final match of the Twenty20 series against the Sri Lankans in Cape Town on Wednesday.

He will then skipper the one-day side having admitted last week that his top priority at this stage of his career was to lead the team at the 2019 World Cup.

A more immediate aim, however, is this year's Champions Trophy in England.

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"We are entering a very important phase of our preparation for the Champions Trophy in England as we only have 10 games left - the five here against Sri Lanka and another five in New Zealand - before we head for another major ICC event," Cricket South Africa selection convener Linda Zondi said in a statement on Monday.

De Villiers scored a blazing century in his return from an elbow injury in South Africa’s domestic 50-over competition on Sunday.

The 32-year-old, playing for Northerns in their clash with Easterns in Benoni, reached triple figures off 87 balls before finishing unbeaten on 134 off 103 deliveries, guiding his team to their target of 200 with 19.3 overs to spare.

His innings featured 19 fours and three sixes.

The superstar batsman, who has 21 centuries to his name from 106 Tests and averages 50.46, has conceded he may have to make “certain choices” to achieve his dream of being fit for the 2019 World Cup in England.

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He stood down from the Test captaincy after a Faf du Plessis-led side completed a memorable 2-1 series victory against Australia in December.

De Villiers has 24 tons to his name in the 50-over format and was in charge as South Africa claimed a heartbreaking semi-final loss to New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

"I'm not retiring out of Test cricket, I'm not retiring out of any format, that's for sure. I am not prepared to do that," de Villiers told South African radio station 702 last week.

"My main aim is to get to that 2019 World Cup and I am going to do everything possible to get there.

“It's important to play the other formats but, mentally and physically, I need to be in a good space come the 2019 World Cup and that's what I am aiming for. I know it’s still a long way away and it's all about managing that really well in order for me to get there.

"I am going to have to make certain choices.”

South Africa will be in action in the 50-over format for the first time since they whitewashed Australia 5-0 on home soil last October.

South Africa squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi