Earlier this week, Shukri Conrad officially took over as the head coach of South Africa’s white-ball teams, including the ODI and T20I squads. Conrad was already serving as the head coach of the Test team, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) has now handed him the responsibility of leading the national team in all formats. His term as head coach will continue until the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in South Africa.
Prioritizing National Team Over Franchise T20 Leagues
After stepping into his expanded role, Shukri Conrad made it clear that he expects all players to prioritize the national team over participation in franchise T20 leagues. He communicated this message to the all-format players, who, according to Conrad, fully support his vision.
Conrad emphasized, “It’s clear when South Africa plays, I want all my players available. If you choose not to play for South Africa, we’ll go in that direction.” He added that rest periods for players will be pre-planned and strictly followed, ensuring they aren’t used as opportunities to play in other leagues.
Shukri Conrad Addressing Previous Player Availability Issues
Conrad’s stance comes after a number of Proteas players previously made themselves unavailable for the national team in favor of playing in lucrative franchise T20 leagues. This situation has led to CSA excluding some well-known players from central contracts in the past.
Acknowledging Rob Walter’s Legacy
Conrad also took the time to commend Rob Walter, the former white-ball coach, for his successful tenure, which saw South Africa reach the semifinals of major ICC events. “Rob laid a really good foundation. His work was excellent, and you only need to look at South Africa’s performances in ICC tournaments to see that,” Conrad said. “I’ll look to build on what he has accomplished.”
First Assignment: Series Against Australia
Conrad’s first major task as head coach will be overseeing South Africa’s upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia in August. The team will travel to Australia for three T20Is and three ODIs. Prior to this, Conrad will coach the Test team in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and a two-match series against Zimbabwe in June.
