Coach Shukri Conrad says CSA-contracted Proteas will no longer be allowed to skip white-ball series to play T20 franchise cricket.

Conrad this week took charge of the Proteas in all three formats following the resignation of white-ball coach Rob Walter last month.

Under Walter, the Proteas often fielded understrength teams in bilateral series, with players putting lucrative franchise deals ahead of the national team.

However, those days appear to be over.

“When South Africa are playing, I want all my players to be available to play,” Conrad told the media. “If you choose not to play for South Africa, well, then you follow that path.

“I have spoken to all the players and they fully support what I want to do.

“It [rest periods] will give the players a chance to catch their breath and won’t be an opportunity to go play in other [T20] leagues.

“When South Africa are not playing, guys are free to play wherever they want. We also want them to maximise their earning potential and also return to South Africa as better cricketers.

“But when the Proteas play, and I can’t put it any simpler than that, all our players have to be available to be selected. If they don’t make themselves available, then that’s a decision they’ve made and the path they’ve chosen.

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“There’s no question of ultimatums; we don’t work with ultimatums. We work with good communication. The main point is going to be that the Proteas have to always be the most important team. If that’s not the case, then players have to choose, but there are no ultimatums given.

“I can tell you every player I’ve spoken to, they put the Proteas first. Hopefully we won’t have a case where players withdraw to play in an overseas league.”

The 58-year-old will oversee the national team through to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which South Africa will co-host, starting with a T20I Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in July.

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