Cricket South Africa (CSA) has come under fire for failing to meet its “transformation goals” after its T20 World Cup squad included only one black player, Kagiso Rabada.
The interim 15-man team includes six players of color, including Rabada. CSA policy requires South Africa’s national team to have six players of color playing in the 11-man squad over the course of a season, with at least two players from the black African community. The national team is unlikely to achieve this goal, as Rabada is the only black African on the team.
South Africa T20 World Cup National Team
Other players of color on the team are Leeza Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuyn, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Ottniel Baartman. Lungi Ngidi, another black African, is also part of the expeditionary reserve, but not part of the main team. ODI captain Themba Bavuma was also not selected in the squad for the World Cup, which begins on June 2 in the United States and West Indies.
South Africa’s former sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, questioned the composition of the World Cup squad, saying the decision to include only one black African did not represent all South Africans.
“Only one African player has been selected in the Proteas squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. This is undoubtedly a reversal of transformative achievements and does not reflect fair representation of all South Africans in the national cricket team. No,” Mbalula wrote to X.
‘betrayal’
Former CSA and ICC president Ray Mali expressed concern, saying the game was degenerating in South Africa.
“I believe a lot has been achieved, but in terms of cricket we have taken a step backwards. We have not progressed,” Mali told SABC Sports.
“I don’t understand why, in this day and age, we can’t have more black players in the South African cricket team. That is unacceptable. We have betrayed those who have called for unity in this country. Players We know which players will represent South Africa because they are coached and monitored from their early days to the top.”
Mali also called for the reinstatement of the AA selection committee, objecting to one person selecting the team in a country as diverse as South Africa.
Currently, CSA does not have a selection committee. The team will be selected by head coaches Shukri Konrad (Test) and Rob Walter (ODI and T20I).
Walter defended the 15 players selected for next month’s ICC event in the Americas, saying the domestic circuit lacks the depth to field a more diverse team.
