South Africa name Johan Botha as T20 skipper by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

GC Smith, J Botha

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DateLine: 26th August 2010

 

Off-spinner Johan Botha was named as South Africa's new Twenty20 captain replacing Graeme Smith, who stepped down from the post earlier this week. Botha will take over the charge immediately ahead of the Twenty20 Internationals against Zimbabwe and Pakistan later this year.

 

Cricket South Africa said the 28-year-old spinner was the unanimous choice for the job and the captain to succeed Smith in the ODI format will be announced later. CSA said Smith will retain ODI captaincy until the end of next year's ICC World Cup in the sub-continent. "We have every confidence that he will do an excellent job leading up to the next edition of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said of the appointment.

 

CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said, "Johan (Botha) has an excellent record as a leader. He was an inspirational captain when he stood in for Smith in the ODI series victory in Australia in 2009."

 

Botha said he was excited at the challenge that lies ahead of him. "I really enjoyed the captaincy when I stood in for Graeme (Smith) before. I am proud to be offered the job now. I am looking forward to working with such a special team," he said.

 

"As far as the 50 overs captaincy is concerned, I will have to see how my own form goes and how the team performs.If everything goes according to plan I would like to think I have a chance of captaining in the 50 overs format as well when Graeme stands down at the end of the World Cup," Botha added.