Eastern Province Cricket president Donovan May has defended the Warriors’ decision to select just two black African players for their One-Day Cup match against the KZN Dolphins in Durban.
Provincial teams are required by CSA to select at least six players of colour in every playing XI, three of whom must be black African. If a team cannot meet the target, it must provide CSA with a valid reason to avoid punishment.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sinethemba Qeshile and all-rounder Andile Mokgakane were the Warriors’ only two black African players to take the field at Kingsmead on 16 February.
As a result, the Warriors – who are coached by former Proteas spinner Robin Peterson – were on Monday docked the five log points (including a bonus point) they earned from their 116-run win, while the Dolphins were awarded four log points.
That cost the Warriors a place in Wednesday’s playoff between the teams that finished second and third on the log, with the Dolphins now set to host the match against the Northerns Titans (who would have hosted the Warriors). The winner will meet Boland in Sunday’s final in Paarl.
May explained to News24 what had happened in Durban.
“The pitch, on the day, wasn’t going to be conducive for fast bowlers and we needed a spinner. We didn’t have another black spinner, but we had a coloured spin bowler, along with an academy player who has a future ahead of him.
“We submitted the team sheets to the transformation committee and, later in the day, we received a call that explained that we breached the administrative rules.
“However, we were making a cricketing decision and there was a conversation between the Dolphins coach [Quinton Friend] and the match referee.”
May said the Warriors had also been fined R500,000 for failing to meet the quota.
“But we have a legal process going,” he added. “We’re going to appeal this matter because we think it was very unfair. There are other instances in where this has happened, but the other teams haven’t faced the music.”
Apart from missing out on a chance to win the One-Day Cup, the Warriors also now face relegation from Division 1 having dropped to last on the 2024-25 promotion-relegation log.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
