Lance Klusener has reportedly withdrawn his application to coach the Proteas’ limited-overs teams.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the former Proteas all-rounder’s decision was influenced by his desire to focus on his coaching roles within franchise T20 cricket. His next assignment in that regard is with Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 league, which starts on Tuesday.
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Klusener was Afghanistan’s head coach from 2019 to 2021. He had previously been Zimbabwe’s batting coach and rejoined the team in that role in early 2022.
ESPNcricinfo claims Klusener was considered the frontrunner to coach the Proteas’ white-ball sides by CSA and his withdrawal is likely to have come as a bit of a shock.
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Going forward, the Proteas will have two head coaches, one for the Test team tasked with being involved in domestic first-class cricket and the other focusing on ODI and T20 cricket.
With Klusener out of the picture, CSA’s options are interim Proteas head coach Malibongwe Maketa, former Proteas assistant coach Adrian Birrell, SA U19 coach Shukri Conrad, former Titans coach Rob Walter or ex-West Indies director of cricket Richard Pybus.
CSA reportedly isn’t in any rush to make a decision, with an official announcement only expected in mid-January when the SA20 is underway.
