Smith steps down as Twenty20 captain
Smith will remain captain of South Africa’s Test squad and will be available for selection for the national team.
Graeme Smith announced he will step down as captain of South Africa’s Twenty20 squad with immediate effect and as One-Day International (ODI) skipper after next year’s World Cup.
Smith, 29, will remain captain of South Africa’s Test squad and will be available for selection for the national team in all three formats of the game.
“There are several reasons why I have made this important career decision,” said Smith. “I’m going into my ninth season of international cricket, eight of which have been as captain. After a lot of thought and consideration I have decided to step down from the captaincy of the ODI squad at the conclusion of the 2011 ICC World Cup campaign. “It’s my intention to play for another five or six years and I know in my heart that I can only do that if I give up some of my current responsibilities.”
Union chief executive Gerald Majola said Smith’s decision was in the interest of both himself and the game as it would pave way for other young cricketers to assume the captaincy.
Smith has been concerned about the lack of a succession plan and has spoken about his desire to finish his international career by playing as “one of the boys” under a different skipper.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2010.
Smith, 29, will remain captain of South Africa’s Test squad and will be available for selection for the national team in all three formats of the game.
“There are several reasons why I have made this important career decision,” said Smith. “I’m going into my ninth season of international cricket, eight of which have been as captain. After a lot of thought and consideration I have decided to step down from the captaincy of the ODI squad at the conclusion of the 2011 ICC World Cup campaign. “It’s my intention to play for another five or six years and I know in my heart that I can only do that if I give up some of my current responsibilities.”
Union chief executive Gerald Majola said Smith’s decision was in the interest of both himself and the game as it would pave way for other young cricketers to assume the captaincy.
Smith has been concerned about the lack of a succession plan and has spoken about his desire to finish his international career by playing as “one of the boys” under a different skipper.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2010.