Cricket South Africa (CSA), have announced that they will be releasing Johan Botha and terminating his national contract after the World Twenty20 at Sri Lanka in September this year.
Botha, has explained that the decision is based on cricket terms, and has nothing to do with financial incentives, but, stated that he is still fully committed to the national squad.
“I remain fully committed to the Proteas in the long term but I would hate to look back on my career at the end and regret that I did not take this opportunity” he said.
Botha, was the Twenty20 International Captain for South Africa in yesterday’s one-off match against India at the Wanderers, and has also been Captain for the side in 2009, during the absence of regular Captain, Graeme Smith.
Besides being a good Captain and leader, CSA Acting CEO, Jacques Faul, also praised Botha for his exceptional bowling abilities, saying: “Johan has been an excellent servant of South African cricket for a lengthy period of time and we will never forget the manner in which he captained the Proteas to success in the absence of Graeme Smith in the away ODI series in Australia in 2009.”
Faul, said that he was proud to have Botha playing for the national squad, but, also noted that Botha would not be letting the squad down in any way whatsoever, after his contract is terminated.
“He is by no means bringing down the curtain on his international career for the Proteas” Faul said.
With the shocking news of Botha’s contract termination, South African fans, will be wishing him all the best of luck, and will also be hoping that he makes an international comeback soon.