Test coach Shukri Conrad said South Africa’s national team must accept the importance of the SA20 to secure the game’s financial sustainability in the country. Conrad stressed the need to coexist with the SA20 and suggested that the league is essential for the sustainability of cricket in South Africa, emphasizing the necessity to work together with leagues worldwide.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling, pointing out that South Africa’s series against New Zealand coincides with the SA20 league, despite Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) claims that the Future Tours Programme (FTP) was decided before the league’s window was finalized.
While CSA has promised no further clashes between bilateral commitments and the SA20, there are concerns about potential scheduling conflicts with future engagements.
Conrad emphasized the importance of the upcoming series in New Zealand and expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to surprise despite being considered underdogs. South Africa has only played two matches in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and will only participate in two-Test series during this time.
