'The best Proteas side will be put out on the field', insists coach Shukri Conrad

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced Conrad as coach of both Proteas' white-ball formats, taking over the role from Rob Walter, and he said he has already had conversions with nationally contracted players.

Conrad will look to build his Proteas squad ahead next year's T20 World Cup and the 2027 50-over World Cup which will be held in South Africa.

"We're going to put out the best Proteas side every time we play," Conrad said. "I've had conversations with our players, all-format players and guys that only play the one format that are contracted to us, that at every turn when the Proteas play, there's an expectation that they'll play for South Africa.

"The Proteas will never be a franchise team, the Proteas will never be a league, nor will it be a convenience. This is part of building a culture and building an environment that players want to be part of.

"Every single player is committed to that and wanting to be a part of it so I can quite comfortably say that at every turn the best Proteas side will be put out on the field."

Walter led the Proteas to a first ever T20 World Cup final last year and qualified for the semifinals of the ODI global tournament in 2023 but seldom had his best players available for bilateral series in-between major competitions, with results taking a serious hit.

Anrich Nortje, Heinrich Klaasen and Tabraiz Shamsi all opted against taking national contracts but are still available to play for the Proteas subject to commitments with T20 franchises.

Conrad added: "We still want our players to gain experience playing in leagues so when South Africa are not playing, guys are going to be free to play wherever they want because we want them to maximise their earning potential and then obviously come back to South Africa as better cricketers also.

"But when the Proteas play, and I can't put it more simply than that: all our players must be available for selection. If they make themselves unavailable for selection, well, that's a decision that they've made and the path that they've chosen."

The immediate focus for Conrad and the Proteas is the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia which starts on 11 June at Lord's.

READ MORE: Shukri Conrad talks continuity as he takes over Proteas white ball teams