Cricket South Africa has officially appointed Imraan Khan as the new batting lead for the national Test team, marking a significant step in his coaching career. Khan, who previously served as the head coach for the Dolphins, will work alongside national red-ball coach Shukri Conrad during the ongoing tour of the West Indies.
Transition from Dolphins to National Team
Imraan Khan’s promotion comes after a successful tenure with the Dolphins, where he guided the team to two four-day series titles in the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons, as well as a shared one-day cup in the 2020/21 season. Under his leadership, the Dolphins reached three CSA T20 Challenge finals, showcasing his ability to develop talent and foster a competitive environment.
Khan’s appointment follows the unavailability of Ashwell Prince, the previous batting coach, who stepped down for personal reasons. This transition allows Khan to take on a more comprehensive role within Cricket South Africa, contributing his expertise to the national setup.
As a former professional cricketer, Imraan Khan is well-acquainted with the pressures of the game. He played for 15 years at the Durban-based union, earning 161 first-class caps and scoring 9,367 runs, which included 20 centuries and an average of 36.58. His only Test appearance came in 2009 against Australia, where he partnered with Prince at the top of the order. Additionally, Khan featured in 121 List A matches and 51 T20s, bringing a wealth of experience to his coaching role.
A Humbled Imraan Khan
Expressing gratitude towards the KZN Cricket Union, Khan stated, “I want to thank the KZN Cricket Union for all their support. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’ve loved starting my coaching career at the union that has been my home for many seasons. This is an exciting step in my path as a coach, but Kingsmead will always be home, and I will miss everyone here.”
As Khan steps into his new role, he aims to enhance the batting performance of the national team and contribute to its success on the international stage. His experience in nurturing young talent will be crucial as South Africa looks to build a competitive squad for upcoming challenges.
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