Smith has real concerns

FORMER Proteas captain Graeme Smith may yet become the director of cricket at Cricket South Africa, despite having withdrawn his application for the position recently.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 lefthanded 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On November 14, Smith announced that he had withdrawn his interest in the director of cricket role, adding that during a “long and, at times, frustrating process over the last 10 or so weeks of discussions, I have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.