Johannesburg, Aug 18 (IANS) Captain Graeme Smith Wednesday announced he will stand down as the South African cricket captain from both the versions of limited overs cricket. He quit the Twenty20 post with immediate effect and will also stand down from his 50-over job after the 2011 World Cup.
Smith, however, will continue to play for both teams and leading the side in Tests.
‘I am going into my ninth season of international cricket — eighth as captain. It’s my aim to play for another five or six years and I can only do that if I give up some of my responsibilities,’ he said.
Smith feels there were several players capable of succeeding him.
‘It is absolutely vital that we maintain continuity in a World Cup season and this major competition also concludes the current cycle of limited overs cricket,’ he said.
‘I also feel that making the announcement now will provide the time and development necessary to ensure a smooth transition. I remain passionate about the captaincy of the Proteas and after the World Cup I will continue to lead the Test team with pride and will continue to be available for selection in all formats of the game.’
‘Someone said to me the other day that I had been captain of South Africa through my whole 20s and that came as a shock to me. I hadn’t thought about it. Making the decision was never easy. It’s been such a large part of my life, (but) in many ways I’m at peace with it,’ he said.
Smith was South Africa’s youngest skipper at the age of 22 when he succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 World Cup. Under him, South Africa have a record of 37 wins from 77 Tests, with 22 defeats and 18 draws.
Smith has played 86 Tests, 154 one-dayers and 27 T20 internationals and scored more than 13,000 runs, including 29 centuries.
