‘Players are excited to work with Director Enoch Nkwe’, says Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj has revealed that players are excited to feature for the Proteas in the next few years under the supervision of the newly appointed Director of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Enoch Nkwe. 

Nkwe has replaced the former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith after the latter chose not to renew his contract, which ended in March this year. 

In the last few years, he has coached the Jozi Stars to win the 2018 edition of the Mzansi Super League and Highveld Lions to win the coveted T20 and First-class titles in 2019. 

Last year, Nkwe resigned from the post of assistant coach of Proteas due to differences in opinion with head coach Mark Boucher. However, the former wicket-keeper will report to Nkwe now. 

Before the departure to England, stand-in captain Maharaj interacted with the reporters. 

The 32-year-old revealed that he has known Nkwe since 2015 and finds his philosophy remarkable. The spinner added that the team is undoubtedly excited about the future roadmap laid by Nkwe. 

"His [Nkwe] main aim is to leave cricket in a better place than where it was. Previously, I have known Enoch from 2015, when we worked together in India.

"I've always thoroughly enjoyed him as a person and as a coach. His philosophy towards certain things is really remarkable. It's something we can look forward to.

"The guys in the camp are excited about the years ahead of planning and where we want to be as a unit.”

Maharaj hopes Cricket will be a better place with a new beginning

The Durban-born insisted that it's essential to leave out the old issues of racism to progress as a team on the international stage after a meeting with the Cricket SA executive board.

"We had a brief intervention with the board," he said. "It's important to bridge the gap and pave a way forward. It was a good exercise to have so that we can leave whatever baggage we had [behind], look at the positives, and leave cricket in a better place," said Maharaj. 

"As soon as we jet off tomorrow [Friday], we're starting on a clean slate and moving forward together as a unit, as a proper Cricket South Africa unit going forward. That's where we're at right now."

The Proteas team will play three matches each across all the formats against England from July 19 to September 12.