CSA downplays search to replace coach Domingo

PROTEAS coach Russell Domingo will spend the next few months nervously looking over his shoulder as Cricket South Africa (CSA) embark on the process to identify his successor.

On Saturday, while South Africa were busy thumping Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the opening ODI at St George’s Park, CSA sent out a release which spoke of how they would not increase the size of the six-team franchise system and the restructuring of senior provincial cricket.

Almost as a footnote to that release was a final paragraph which read: “The board of directors also resolved to commence the recruitment process for the appointment of the Proteas head coach to take charge after the tour to the UK until after the 2019 edition of the ICC World Cup.”

In a normal world, the decision to begin the search for a team’s national coach would be treated as a big deal. But, clearly, CSA wanted this one to slip under the radar without too many questions being raised.

In fact, requests for Domingo to attend the after-match press conference were denied by team management.

But that did not stop captain AB de Villiers from speaking his mind at the post-match presser.

“It is a tough one for the team and I’m speaking on behalf of the guys. It’s really difficult for us to take in and there will certainly be a few sad hours in the changing room now afterwards,” De Villiers said.

“But at the end of the day it’s out of our hands completely, it’s a board decision and we got to respect that.”

The “announcement” caused a stir on social media with former Lions and Titans coach Dave Nosworthy among those to voice their opinion.

“If this is true – this ‘principle’ BOGGLES my mind … No man’s position should EVER be advertised while he is still in position... ,” Nosworthy said on his Facebook account.

This effectively signals the end of Domingo’s four-year tenure as the Proteas head coach. Domingo’s contract expires at the end of August‚ which coincides with the end of South Africa’s two and a half-month tour to England.

The tour starts in mid-May and ends after the fourth test at Old Trafford in Manchester on August 8.

Domingo’s contract was due to expire in April but an impressive end-of-year performance in 2016 – South Africa beat New Zealand 1-0 in a two-test series, whitewashed Australia 5-0 in an ODI series at home and beat also beat the Aussies 2-1 in an away test series – played a significant role in his contract extension.

CSA spokesperson Altaaf Kazi said Domingo will also re-apply for his current job.

“Since his contract has been extended until the end of the England series‚ we’ve started the processes of looking for and confirming the Proteas coach from post the England series to the post the 2019 Cricket World Cup,” Kazi said. – Additional reporting by Khanyiso Tshwaku