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South African Indian happy over cricket appointment
South African Indian cricket administrator Goolam Rajah was elated over his appointment as manager of the ICC World XI Test and ODI team.
South African Indian cricket administrator Goolam Rajah was elated over his appointment as manager of the ICC World XI Test and one day international teams in October's Johnnie Walker Super Series in Australia.
"I thought I had experienced most of what the game had to offer in team management roles, but the opportunity of working with the ICC World XI teams is a great honour and a personal privilege. It will certainly be a highlight for me and I can't wait to get started," Rajah said here Friday.
Rajah has held senior team management positions in South African cricket for more than a decade and with more than 260 One Day Internationals, 102 Test matches, three ICC Cricket World Cups and three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments to his credit; he is the most experienced team manger in the international game.
Later this month he will manage the Africa XI side in the three-match ODI series against an Asian XI, prior to starting work with the ICC World XI sides.
"Playing Australia in Australia will be a huge challenge for the players and I see my main role as making things work smoothly and efficiently as part of the management team, leaving the players free to concentrate their energies on training and preparation," he added.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that Rajah was an ideal candidate to take on such a demanding post: "During the course of his managerial career in South African cricket, Goolam has encountered just about every possible situation that can confront a team.
"That background and experience will be an important asset in making sure that players arriving in Australia from around the cricketing world are well planned for and looked after during the series. I have every confidence that he will do an excellent job."
Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa said: "This is a fitting tribute by the ICC to Goolam, who has managed South African teams for more than 100 Tests and scores of ODIs.
This, we believe, is unprecedented in world cricket. In addition to his outstanding administrative abilities, Goolam has been a wonderful ambassador for SA teams, the nation and cricket on his travels throughout the world for more than a decade."
Prior to managing the national team Rajah was a major figure in provincial cricket here, serving as an executive board member, selector and team manager between 1992 and 1996.
A pharmacist by profession, Rajah was honoured by the United Cricket Board of South Africa Award in 2004 for outstanding service to South African cricket.
