Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith may yet become the director of cricket at Cricket South Africa, despite having withdrawn his application for the position recently.
Smith responded yesterday to a Sunday Times report stating that he was “set to be named Cricket SA’s new director of cricket in the coming weeks”, and that he would sign a four-year contract that would take him through to the 2023 World Cup in India.
While the 38-year-old former left-handed opener - who scored 9 265 runs in 117 Tests - said that he had not been appointed to the post, he had reopened dialogue with CSA.
“Contrary to media reports I have not been appointed director of cricket by CSA. As previously advised I withdrew my application for the role. I am, however, in ongoing discussions with CSA, but I still have real concerns, which I have reiterated to them,” Smith said on Twitter yesterday.
On November 14, Smith announced that he had withdrawn his interest in the director of cricket role, adding that during a “long and, at times, frustrating process over the last 10 or so weeks of discussions, I have not developed the necessary confidence that I would be given the level of freedom and support to initiate the required changes”.
The Proteas are in dire need of rejuvenation after a forgettable 2019 that saw them miss out on the World Cup semi-finals following just three victories in nine matches, while they were thrashed 3-0 by India (including two defeats by an innings) in an away Test series in October.
Long-serving CSA employee Corrie van Zyl has been the interim director of cricket, but is one of three officials currently suspended following a situation involving player contracts and the alleged non-payment of fees for the 2018 Mzansi Super League.
@AshfakMohamed
Cape Times
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