Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially appointed Shukri Conrad as the head coach of South Africa’s white-ball teams, expanding his current role as Test coach. Conrad will now lead the national side across all three formats, a move that ends CSA’s recent experiment with split coaching duties. His term is set to continue until the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted in South Africa.
Conrad replaces Rob Walter, who stepped down in April. The appointment streamlines leadership and aims to build a consistent playing style and team identity across formats.
Selection Process and Future Planning
Unlike previous appointments, CSA did not open up the position to external applications or conduct interviews. Since Conrad was already leading the red-ball team and had applied for both coaching roles earlier, the board extended his duties to include the limited-overs sides as well.
However, CSA is introducing a new change — the return of a selection convener, ending the current practice of head coaches handling squad selection on their own. Applications for the role closed on April 29, and the final decision will be announced soon.
“I’m truly honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the national team across all formats,” said Conrad. “The white-ball talent pool in South Africa is rich, and I believe we can achieve something special in the coming years.”
A Proven Track Record with South Africa
Conrad’s impact on the Test side has been significant. Under his guidance, South Africa won seven consecutive Tests — the team’s second-best streak in history. He played a pivotal role in South Africa’s qualification for the World Test Championship final against Australia.
He also coached the team during a crucial ODI series against England in early 2023 when Walter was unavailable. South Africa won that series 2-1, and Temba Bavuma, now captain of both the Test and ODI sides, made a comeback with a match-winning century.
“Shukri’s red-ball record speaks for itself,” said Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s director of national teams. “His understanding of team dynamics and strong relationships with the players make him the best candidate for this expanded role.”
With experience in domestic cricket and multiple white-ball titles under his belt, Conrad now has the responsibility of shaping South Africa’s future across all formats — starting with the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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