Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma says he doesn’t own the captain’s armband and that he is happy to relinquish it should the coaches decide to do so.
Bavuma wants to make it known that he absorbed pressure as a skipper and that he will respect the decision to axe him as the leader of the Proteas.
This comes as the South African senior men’s cricket team recently announced a new coach in the form of Rob Walter.
Besides automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup, Bavuma’s future as the Proteas’ limited-overs captain is the other bit of drama humming in the background of the three-match series against England that starts on Friday.
“I’ve said to the guys if they still want me to lead, then I am happy to do it,” he said on Thursday.
“I’ve never made it about me, it’s always been about the team. Whenever the team hasn’t performed well, I’ve always tried to shield the guys, and when the team has done well, I don’t think you’ve ever heard me say it’s about me and I, and all that.”
It is reported that Walter and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe have said there will be a different captain for the 2027 World Cup South Africa will host.
However, the nippy batter’s future in the role is likely to be scrutinised well before then, with a possible change ahead of this year’s World Cup and the qualifying tournament, which South Africa could play in Zimbabwe in June.
“If the team wants to go a different direction with a different leader, then I am happy to step away. We have a new coach now and ultimately it’s up to him,” he added.
“The coach will have his vision and will need somebody to drive that vision. At the moment, the coach has entrusted me with that role [as captain] with the 50-over stuff.
“I will continue doing my best. I’m fortunate I have got a bunch of guys who support me through hell and back. For me, it’s business as usual, for now.”
As a limited-overs skipper, Bavuma has made peace with not being part of the SA20, saying he’s moved on from that disappointment.
He remains the captain of the T20 team, but he wasn’t picked at last year’s auction, where his base price of R850 000 wasn’t able to fetch him a bid from any of the six teams.
Main Image: Temba Bavuma/New Frame
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