‘Domingo will disqualify himself if he doesn’t apply’

GENIUS: India captain Virat Kohli seizes match-winning moments CRICKET SA president Chris Nenzani said Russell Domingo’s future as Proteas coach does not hinge on the team’s dismal ICC Champions Trophy performance.

Friday was the deadline for the Proteas coaching position that was advertised this week and the timing was perfect considering the abject nature of the team’s exit from another International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament and the general mess they were throughout.

Domingo’s contract expires at the end of August, which coincides with the end of South Africa’s tour of England which has consisted of limited overs failures — a 2-1 defeat.

He had his contract extended since he took over from Gary Kirsten in 2013 and the team has experienced wild fluctuations in all formats with unexpected successes interjected with demoralising defeats.

Nenzani said: “The decision to advertise the national cricket team coaching position was taken in October last year and it has nothing to do with last week’s performance.

“Everybody who applies will be judged on the basis of the strength of their applications and whether they are in line with what we are looking for. Nothing is informed by what happened last week and this week.

“Remember, we reserve the right to appoint and not to appoint and we WHAT FUTURE HOLDS: Proteas coach Russell Domingo’s contract expires at the end of August will look at what we have. If we are not satisfied with what we have, we will go ahead and headhunt a preferred candidate. The issue of headhunting will be the last resort and that will also be determined by the applications. When we headhunt, we will be looking for the individual who will be tasked with taking the team forward. It could be anyone.”

He explained that Domingo will disqualify himself in the event he does not apply for his job and will not be able to be recommended.

The fates of the support staff are also tied in with Domingo’s contract. While the process will officially begin once the prospective candidates are shortlisted, Nenzani also defended having former coaches Kirsten and Eric Simons on the panel for the search of the new coach.

Simons and Kirsten presided over different tenures as Proteas coaches and were eluded by ICC success even though that is something they achieved as a coaching duo with India. Kirsten was head coach and Simons the bowling coach when India broke their 28-year World Cup duck on home soil.

“We know in South Africa there hasn’t been anyone who has won anything tangible,” Nenzani said.

“The reason why we have Kirsten and Simons on the panel is because of the highly technical environment that is coaching and it’s that skill that we’re looking for.

“We needed people who can provide insight and skill when it comes to that department and they will know what to look for because they have been there before.

“The management staff is always linked to the tenure of the coach. When the coach is announced, he will be given the time to find his own support staff and based on that, the board will approve his staff.”