Corrie van Zyl will continue as interim coach of the Proteas until April 2011, while veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis has been appointed Proteas vice captain with Graeme Smith as captain, until the end of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. This was announced on Friday afternoon, following a Cricket South Africa (CSA) Board meeting in Johannesburg. The Board endorsed a new structure to provide the Proteas with a strong management team that supports excellence,  innovation and international best practice, as proposed by CSA CEO Gerald Majola.
 
The Board has tasked the CEO with compiling a process of appointing the new structure, which will commence after the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. The Board also accepted a recommendation from the Cricket Committee to appoint a four-member national selection panel comprising the National Convenor of Selectors, a High Performance Representative, the National Coach and the National Captain.
 
The process to establish this new selection committee will begin immediately. In the meantime, the interim selection panel comprising CSA CEO Gerald Majola, van Zyl and Proteas batting consultant, Kepler Wessels, will continue to operate.
 
CSA President, Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka, said: “These decisions were made with the goal of streamlining the selection and management processes around the Proteas as one of the main objectives of getting the squad back on top of the world logs and staying there.
 
“The Proteas deserve the very best support and CSA wants to take time to formalize a management structure that supports excellence and innovation. At this time, we are of the opinion that Corrie van Zyl be kept on as interim coach, until the end of the 2010/2011 season, to take us through an incredibly busy period for the Proteas.”
 
The Board further endorsed a proposal to include six new players to the list of Proteas contracted players for the 2010/2011 season.  The players are Loots Bosman, Alviro Petersen, Charl Langeveldt, Ryan McLaren, Roelof van der Merwe and Rusty Theron.
 
The Board also accepted an invitation for South Africa to host the second season of the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 tournament at three venues over the period of 10-26 September this year.
CSA is a shareholder in the Champions League, along with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Australian Cricket Association (ACA), and it is our turn to host the tournament.
 
The 12-team tournament comprises the top sides in the domestic limited overs competitions in the following countries:
• Indian Premier League (3 teams)
• South Africa (2)
• Australia (2)
• England (2)
• Sri Lanka (1)
• New Zealand (1)
• West Indies (1)
 
The three venues will be the home grounds of the Standard Bank Pro 20 finalists for this season and the third to be allocated by CSA.
 
Dr Nyoka said: “This is a prestigious tournament involving seven of the world’s top cricket nations.  It will be another feather in South Africa’s cap as a host of world-class sports events and will not clash in any way with the FIFA World Cup 2010.
 
“It will also be a big boost to the local franchises, their players and supporters which will feature in the tournament.”
 
The Board agreed to continue with the recently concluded pioneer trial MTN40 season, which saw a marked spectator increase from the old MTN Domestic Championship 45-over format.
 
“The MTN40 format was more exciting and attracted 99,060 fans compared to last year’s 45-over competition figure of 90,407.
 
“Judging by the attendance records at the grounds and television viewership, the spectators enjoyed the innovations and the initial response has been most positive, including that of sponsor MTN. The
Chevrolet Warriors are to be congratulated on winning the trophy, which is their first.”
 
There will be an in-depth workshop with all role players to look at what is best from a cricket perspective, and be marketable in a competitive sporting environment.
Further consultation will take place with the working committee on the MTN40 and the Cricket Committee, before a final report is presented to the Board at the next meeting in May.
 
PROTEAS CONTRACTED PLAYERS – 2010/2011 SEASON
Graeme Smith                        (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Jacques Kallis                         (Chevrolet Warriors)
Hashim Amla                          (Nashua Dolphins)
Lungile Bosman                      (Nashua Dolphins)
Johan Botha                            (Chevrolet Warriors)
Mark Boucher                         (Chevrolet Warriors)
AB de Villiers                           (Nashua Titans)
Jean Paul Duminy                  (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Herschelle Gibbs                    (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Paul Harris                              (Nashua Titans)
Charl Langeveldt                     (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Ryan Mclaren                         (Chevrolet Diamond Eagles)
Albie Morkel                            (Nashua Titans)
Morne Morkel                         (Nashua Titans)
Makhaya Ntini                         (Chevrolet Warriors)
Wayne Parnell                        (Chevrolet Warriors)
Alviro Petersen                       (bizhub Highveld Lions)
Ashwell Prince                        (Chevrolet Warriors)
Dale Steyn                              (Nashua Titans)
Rusty Theron                          (Chevrolet Warriors)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe                  (Chevrolet Warriors)
Roelof van der Merwe            (Nashua Titans)