Lions chief executive Jonno Leaf-Wright believes having his head coach Russell Domingo miss this week’s Cricket SA 4-Day Series final “does not devalue South Africa’s domestic system at all.”
In fact, Leaf-Wright feels it's actually a feather in the cap attesting to the quality of South African coaches that Domingo has been called up to steer the Lahore Qalanders ship in the Pakistan Super League, which gets underway on Friday in Rawalpindi.
The Lions, of course, face the Titans in the Cricket SA’s domestic first-class showpiece at the Wanderers from Thursday.
“So, obviously, Russ got this opportunity as head coach of Lahore,” Leaf-Wright exclusively told Independent Media.
Final Secured!👊🏆
Our DP World Lions had a fierce start to their 4-Day Series title defense last year, as they sprinted to the top of the log before the December break.📈
Our Lions secured a home ground final starting this Thursday 10 April, against our "Jukskei Rivals", the… pic.twitter.com/i4Pf7JwYVC
“He came to me and said, ‘Listen, I’m really happy to say no because Lions comes first and what's my views?’
“I said, ‘Russ, at the end of the day, there's always great learning in these types of opportunities that you can bring back to our own environment.’
“I've always been an innovative type of leader, with the view that if guys can go and learn and grow and bring innovation back, that's what I want. I don't want any Lions player or staff member to ever be confined to this box.
“We called a meeting with some of the senior players and assistant coaches and discussed whether this final can be delivered as a union without Russ physically being here. He’s also been on the phone with me non-stop.
“And just to emphasise, it wasn't a Russell decision or Jonno decision. It was a collective decision by senior players within the team, by leadership within the team, and the coaching staff,” he added.
Russell Domingo is thrilled to join Lahore Qalandars for HBL PSL 10 🤝🏻
Qalandars, give our new coach a warm welcome 🫂 pic.twitter.com/xdnCjzaE9J
Leaf-Wright, who is also currently at the Indian Premier League to gain a better understanding of how to improve the domestic game’s marketability, feels the decision was made easier due to the quality of the Lions’ assistant coaches.
The experienced Jimmy Kgamadi will take over the official coaching duties along with Proteas legends Hashim Amla (batting) and Allan Donald (bowling), while renowned former Proteas video analyst Prasanna Agoram in his role as High Performance Manager will shoulder greater responsibility.
“You've got Alan, you've got Hash and you've got Prasanna,” Leaf-Wright said. “I mean, Prasanna does CPL, he does some other leagues around the world.
“We've got quite a flexible system at Lions Cricket because of the depth and we believe that if a coach steps out to do something that's approved by me, then others can step up and support the environment that's needed to lift trophies.
“I think when we signed on Hash and Allan and Russ, it was always with that flexibility in mind. We really do have an international coaching staff.
“And if you don't have that kind of flexible thinking and that agile thinking where you can release and create depth in your system that can step up, you then start to block people's opportunities.
“And once you block people's opportunities, then they could look elsewhere for those opportunities and not make Lions their home.
“And I want them to make Lions their home. And that's why people like Prasanna's been with us for years and why Russell also loves it.”
The Lions are the defending CSA 4-Day Series champions and have already lifted the 1-Day Cup trophy are looking to complete the domestic double this weekend.