Smith responded yesterday to a Sunday Times report stating that he was “set to be named Cricket SA’s new director of cricket in the coming weeks”, and that he would sign a four-year contract that would take him through to the 2023 World Cup in India.
While the 38-year-old former left-handed opener - who scored 9 265 runs in 117 Tests - said that he had not been appointed to the post, he had reopened dialogue with CSA.
“Contrary to media reports I have not been appointed director of cricket by CSA. As previously advised I withdrew my application for the role. I am, however, in ongoing discussions with CSA, but I still have real concerns, which I have reiterated to them,” Smith said on Twitter yesterday.
On November 14, Smith announced that he had withdrawn his interest in the director of cricket role, adding that during a “long and, at times, frustrating process over the last 10 or so weeks of discussions, I have not developed the necessary confidence that I would be given the level of freedom and support to initiate the required changes”.