Proteas Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma has questioned how the EP Warriors’ One-Day Cup quota-system breach was handled by CSA.

The Warriors were docked five log points for only fielding two black Africans in their win against the KZN Dolphins in Durban, which cost them a place in the playoffs.

They were also fined R500,000, half of which was suspended.

MORE: ‘Cricket decision’ cost Warriors playoff spot

After a mediation process, CSA said the Warriors had accepted their current log position and would pay R100,000 towards CSA’s grassroots cricket development initiatives in under-resourced communities within the Eastern Cape.

“In my opinion it shouldn’t have played out the way it did,” Bavuma told IOL Sport. “It’s sensitive, it’s controversial, and I think the decision-makers have the power to implement it.

“It’s important that it’s done with pure intentions, you know, I think when the intentions are not good it kind of stirs up all the controversy.

“You’re trying to protect cricket within the country, or I think we need to be a little bit more sensitive with certain people,” he added. “From the conditions, it seems they wanted to do something different.

“I can’t really stand here and call out their decisions, but I think it does open up a can of worms.

“I don’t think it’s an indictment of cricket in South Africa. I think with transformation, the easiest thing is always to kind of point to Cricket South Africa.”

ALSO: I believe in transformation – Warriors coach

Bavuma said he understood the impact it would have on a team.

“Within the Warriors change room, and how it affects those players … Your white players, your black players, those type of interactions.

“It can negatively affect guys, how guys view each other, how guys view selection, because that’s obviously where, it tends to play itself out.

“For us at the top, look, we deal with what we have to deal with, as players, we spend enough time with the coaches to understand that there will be certain things that you have to deal with, fairly or unfairly, as a black player.

“Certain things, sure, they don’t surprise you. You just kind of get on with it, and what you need to do.

“Like I said, I think there’s better ways to, if we’re trying to send a message, there’s better ways to do that.”

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images