SPORTCricket SA (CSA) is considering an overhaul of the Proteas team's coaching setup. This came after Proteas men's ODI and T20s head coach Rob Walter quit on 1 April.
City Press has established that talks are at an advanced stage for a return to one head coach for all three formats.
Currently, Shukri Conrad is the Proteas test head coach.
Conrad and Walter were appointed in January 2023.
READ: Proteas bombshell as Rob Walter resigns as white-ball coach
Walter steered the Proteas to the ODI World Cup semi-finals in late 2023.
He also guided the team to last year's T20 World Cup final, the Proteas' maiden appearance in a final.
South Africa lost to India in that decider in Barbados last June.
Conrad has emerged as the favourite to take full charge of the Proteas, City Press has been reliably informed.
"There was a cricket committee meeting this week and a motion was made to do away with the split-coaching structure," said a source. "Test head coach Shukri Conrad's name came up prominently to take over the Proteas white ball job and be the head coach in all three formats."
The insider added:
The move doesn't necessarily mean the split coaching system has failed. It is because the 2027 World Cup is around the corner and it will take time for the new coach to adapt. Shukri is there and knows the players and the players love him. The Proteas must win that tournament on home soil.
A fortnight ago, CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe, said they were working around the clock to fill the vacant coaching post by the end of this month.
Nkwe spoke to City Press on the sidelines of the unveiling of Japanese carmaker Suzuki as the sponsor of the Proteas men's and women's ODI teams in Midrand recently.
"The split-coaching structure is something that we are considering. Maybe there were some challenges, but it is still under review. We will be in a stronger position, probably in two weeks to say, okay, this is the way forward."
On Wednesday, Nkwe told City Press:
Meetings and discussions are ongoing. It is a pressing matter but let us allow processes to take place.
Efforts to get comment from Nkwe on Friday about the committee's decision were in vain.
However, our sources insisted that the cricket committee was ready to take its decision to the CSA board for approval.
In turn, the board would table that decision to the members' council, an oversight body consisting of presidents of all 15 CSA regional affiliates.
Mark Boucher coached the Proteas in all three formats from November 2019 until his resignation in September 2022. Then CSA decided to split the coaching.
Conrad and Walter were appointed four months later. At the time, CSA said this was to allow a specialised focus on each format.
READ: Fresh test for Proteas
The split coaching method was introduced by England three years ago.
England appointed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as test head coach while Australian Matthew Mott took over as the white ball head coach.
But England returned to the old order when McCullum was appointed to take charge of all three formats last September.
READ: Cricket SA unveils landmark sponsorship deal with carmaker Suzuki
Last week, New Zealand Cricket advertised for a test head coach and white ball head coach.
This came a week after the contract of Gary Stead, who had coached all three formats since 2018, was not renewed.
Australia Cricket toyed with the idea late last year but appointed Andrew McDonald as head coach of all formats until the 2027 World Cup.
India, the game's powerhouse and wealthiest board, are reportedly not open to any discussion about the split coaches.
