Domingo not ready to commit future with South Africa

Russell Domingo, the South Africa head coach, said on Friday (February 10) that he is undecided about his future with the team. His contract expires after the tour of England in August later this year and in order to retain his position, Domingo will have to reapply for the job and go through the recruitment process all over again.

The announcement that the recruitment process for a new head coach is open came mid-way through the Sri Lanka series. However, Domingo wasn't too bothered by the timing of Cricket South Africa's decision, and said, "There's never a good time but the board has got processes they need to follow.

"They need to do what they feel is in the best interests of the national team. Whatever they feel that is, they need to make those decisions. I don't always have to agree with it or love it or disagree with it. It just is what it is. That's part of life and part of sport. If Jose Mourinho's contract can be up - I am only Russell Domingo... there have been big coaches whose contract has expired and they've got to move on. That's the way it is," he added.

Under Domingo, whose contract has already been extended thrice, South Africa slipped from the top spot in ICC Test Rankings to No 7, before climbing to the third position. In One-Day Internationals, they became the first side to whitewash Australia 5-0 and also have a run of 14 successive wins at home. It is believed that if he chooses to reapply for the position, the recruitment process will become a mere formality.

"I need to think about it," Domingo said following South Africa's win in the fifth ODI in Centurion. "There's a lot of water to still go under the bridge. Our focus is on this New Zealand series. I need to weigh up where I am with my life, with my family, with my career and make a call closer to the time. At this stage, I am not able to commit or not commit. I have to see," he noted.

Domingo, who has been South Africa's coach since 2013, became the first man at the helm to help the side win a knockout match in a World Cup - when South Africa beat Sri Lanka in the quarterfinal of the 2015 edition. He still has three assignments before his contract expires - a tour of New Zealand which includes a Twenty20 International, five ODIs and three Tests, ICC Champions Trophy and a four-Test tour of England. While a good show, especially in the ICC event, will help his case in retaining the job, Domingo says that he isn't looking for any motivation from these matches.

"I don't think I need that as any form of motivation. It's not about me, it's about the team. It's not about me being motivated, it's about the players being motivated," he concluded.