CSA boss shoots down rumours of Gary Kirsten joining South Africa
The CEO of Cricket South Africa, Gerald Majola has denied the existence of any truth in the rumours that their former national player Gary Kirsten would be joining the team as a head coach next year. Kirsten is currently coaching the Indian national team.
Regarding the rumoured negotiations between Cricket South Africa and Kirsten, Majola said, “It's just rumours that Gary had already applied for the position (of South African coach) or that we have already entered into discussion with him."
Kirsten is currently thought to be the strongest candidate to take the realms of South African coaching department after the 2011 World Cup, when the current SA coach Corrie van Zyl steps down.
Majola said that the position of next SA coach is still vacant and the panel consisting of Majola, Corrie van Zyl, Andrew Hudson (convener of selectors) and Boeta Dippenaar (players' representative) will start holding interviews of the candidates in the beginning of 2011.
The CEO Cricket South Africa said, “We will be casting our net very wide to find the right person and take the team to the next level. The search for the new coach is a worldwide one and the requirements that he will have to meet are the highest that there are."
Earlier this month, news had circulated that South Africa would want Kirsten to coach them once his contract with the Indian team expires after the World Cup in February 2011. It was reported that the current South African players were also supporting the appointment of their former comrade as the head coach of the team. However, last month Cricket South Africa lost their permanent sponsors (Standard Bank) and due to this it was always suspected that CSA would not be able to afford the services of Kirsten.
The reason for Kirsten being the favourite candidate for the post is the fact that in a two year stint he has made India the number one team in Test cricket by overthrowing the mighty Australia. The Indian national squad has also improved tremendously in the ODI and Twenty20 formats of the game likewise.
The expectations from Indian side are so high that they are fancying their chances of lifting the 2011 Cricket World Cup, owing to the efforts put in by Kirsten.
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