Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced Shukri Conrad as the all-format head coach of the South Africa men’s team, entrusting him with the reins of Test, ODI, and T20I cricket through to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Conrad, who has been in charge of the Test side since January 2023, will now unify the coaching structure, marking a new era for the national team.
Conrad’s appointment follows a transformative tenure as Test coach, where he helped the Proteas secure a qualification for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final. His success earned him the prestigious Wisden Cricket Coach of the Year award for 2024.
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Shukri Conrad Replaces Rob Walter as South Africa's White-Ball Head Coach
CSA’s decision to consolidate coaching duties under Conrad comes after Rob Walter’s departure from the white-ball role, who resigned due to personal reasons in April. Walter, who guided the Proteas to the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final and the T20 World Cup final in 2024, leaves a legacy of progress in limited-overs cricket.
However, CSA Director of National Teams and High Performance Enoch Nkwe emphasized Conrad’s proven track record and vision as key to his expanded role.
"Shukri’s track record with the red-ball team speaks for itself. He has laid a solid foundation and instilled a strong identity within the Test environment. I’m excited to see him bring the profile and structure to the white-ball space," said Nkwe in the press release issued by CSA.
"Having worked within the national setup for the past two years, he understands the demands of international cricket and has fostered valuable relationships with the players. We have every confidence he is the right person to guide the team forward and maintain our upward trajectory," he added.
Shukri Conrad Eyes South Africa’s First World Cup Trophy in His Tenure
Conrad will be the head honcho of South Africa in the upcoming ICC events. His immediate challenge will be the WTC 2023-25 final versus Australia, starting June 11 at Lord's.
The 58-year-old will also want to help South Africa win the T20 World Cup 2026. His ultimate target will be the 2027 ODI World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
"I’m truly honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the national team across all three formats,” The 58-year-old said. “Coaching the Test side has been the greatest privilege of my cricket journey, and to now oversee the white-ball teams as well is something unbelievably special," Conrad stated.
"South African cricket has incredible white-ball talent, from the calibre of our senior players to the emerging group of juniors eager to make their mark. There’s a strong foundation to build on, and I believe we have what it takes to achieve something special," he concluded.
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