Shukri Conrad's backing gives George Linde the freedom to push for a Proteas T20 World Cup spot

IN his first engagement with the media since being appointed Proteas all-format coach, Shukri Conrad made it clear that George Linde is one of three frontline spinners as they build for the T20 World Cup in India next year.

Alongside Linde, there is 23-year-old leg-spinner Nqaba Peter and slow left-arm orthodox Senuran Muthusamy, with the trio being given opportunities to stake a claim for a spot in the full-strength Proteas side that will travel to India next year.

Linde and Peter started well in the ongoing Tri-Series in Harare as they picked up four wickets between them, helping the Proteas seal a five-wicket victory over hosts Zimbabwe on Monday.

Having been backed by Conrad, Linde highlighted that he now plays with freedom.

"Look, we (with Conrad) had a good conversation a month or two ago. It was positive, and he did say he wants me to be part of this T20 squad, and then we'll take things from there. I told him, I want to play for South Africa, I want to make myself available, and I want to give myself the best chance to play for South Africa," Linde said on Tuesday.

"(Being backed by Conrad) means a lot. It gives you a little bit more confidence. You can play with a little bit more freedom. But I still don't really think too far ahead. I'm just trying to focus on the process now and take it game by game. Look, if I don't do well (in Harare) and Shuks decides no, I'm not the guy for him, then so be it.

"I'm just trying to do my best, and if I do well and I'm on that plane to the World Cup, happy days. It's always been a dream of mine to represent South Africa in the World Cup."

The Proteas are set to take on New Zealand at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday for the second match of the ongoing Tri-Series.

Given that Rob Walter, the former Proteas white ball coach for the past two years and now New Zealand coach, has valuable intel on the Proteas players and the team's blueprint, there has been concern that the Blackcaps might have an advantage heading into the clash.

However, Linde reckons that Walter's intel may not come into play tomorrow, given that the current Proteas T20I squad has multiple new faces that Walter may not have worked with in his time as Proteas coach.

"Look, if you look around our squad, I can say there are a lot of new faces. So, it's probably not the A side, well, the proper Proteas side," Linde said.

"Most of the guys are resting, (they are getting a) well-deserved rest after the Test Championship. There are a lot of fresh faces, guys who want to do well for the Proteas and make their mark on the side. I think there's a lot of new faces and everyone plays differently."

While Walter's advantage may be nullified, there is no denying that New Zealand are coming into the contest with a lot of gametime, seeing that their players have been active playing in the Indian Premier League and the Major League Cricket this month.

Linde accepted that the Black Caps are coming into the contest with a superior match fitness and thus emphasised that the fixture will be entertaining.

"If you look at their squad, they've actually played a lot of cricket. Most of their guys have played county cricket, they played in America, and they played in the IPL," said Linde.

"So, I think they've played quite a bit of cricket, and so did we as well. So, it's obviously going to be a good game and hopefully we'll go one ahead of them."

The fixture is set to get underway at 1 pm SAST.