Shukri Conrad’s vast experience and diverse understanding of the game makes him the perfect candidate for the Director of Cricket role, writes Khalid Mohidin.
The CSA restructure is a positive step in the right direction.
Especially their announcement that they will be adopting the football mould by appointing a Director of Cricket.
READ: CSA ANNOUNCES NEW STRUCTURE
The understanding is that the Director of Cricket will have the power to drive the organization forward from a cricketing perspective, giving someone with a vast knowledge of the game the responsibility to make the important cricketing decisions. Decisions that shape and mould a particular brand and identity.
The candidate for this role must have an unwavering will and desire to find a winning formula by selecting a group of individuals (Team director, coaching staff, technical staff and administrative staff) who can provide the results required whilst still maintaining the standard and quality of the sport.
He needs to be a visionary who is able to understand the South African pipeline and ensure that the correct maintenance is taking place to ensure fluidity during the team rebuilding phase and beyond.
The person in charge must also have a player’s understanding of the game and understand the pressures of the game from a player’s perspective.
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All of these boxes are ticked by Conrad.
The 52-year-old has coached at every level including a stint with Uganda as their national coach. Despite having all the attributes needed to succeed in the Proteas coaching role, he has yet to land the role.
He has coached at provincial, franchise and pre-national level and has always had an influence on South Africa’s next generation through his role as head coach of South Africa A side and the Sri Lanka Emerging side.
You can also often see him at domestic games to update his wealth of knowledge regarding the current top performers and future stars.
He also has an admirable understanding of the schools and grassroots structures.
What makes Conrad an outstanding candidate is that he has won trophies in the past with Gauteng and the Cobras. Not many are aware of the fact that Conrad represented SA Schools alongside the likes Gary Kirsten and Daryll Cullinan, relegating the likes of recent ICC Hall of Fame Inductee Allan Donald to 12th man duties.
With regards to South African cricket, there are not many who don’t know him and about his incredible passion and knowledge of the game. One conversation with him will enlighten your understanding of the sport, guaranteed.
South Africa is in a delicate transition phase at the moment, but the only way that the Proteas can climb their way back to the top of World Cricket is if the right person is selected as Director.
What is needed is a man who can make cricketing decisions rather than political or business decisions – leave that to the CEO and Commercial managers.
Conrad will be the perfect appointment and has the knowledge to pick a like-minded panel who can breathe life into the wilted Proteas fraternity.
