A Proteas high-performance squad will head into the African bush next week for a culture camp amid the absence of professional cricket due to Covid-19.

The squad of 32 players will depart for the Kruger National Park this coming Tuesday, where they will spend four days at the popular Skukuza rest camp.

After a turbulent 18 months on and off the field for South African cricket, the idea will be to focus on or create a new team identity, establishing a favourable team environment for all and ultimately get in the right state of mind to perform better.

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The camp is similar to ones in the past, which was first conducted under the leadership of Graeme Smith and then Faf du Plessis a few years later.

‘It was very important for us during the break that the Covid-19 pandemic has created to get the guys to reconnect while our FTP [Future Tours Programme] was getting sorted out,’ said team manager Khomotso Volvo Masubelele.

‘We felt that it was important for the guys to come together to engage on some of the critical issues surrounding the team or elements that need attention.

‘What we are going to be focusing on is matters around team identity, team environment, the performance measures and models that we want to put in place for the season to come. We want to leave with a blueprint that the players will be able to own and understand, something that will resonate with them.’

The Proteas finished last season on a high by beating Australia 3-0 in the ODI series after what was a tough summer of cricket on South African soil.

No indication has yet been provided what future tours or series involving the team will look like.