• Five other ways CSA could’ve handled AB’s offer

    Published on | Leave a response

    AB de Villiers was available for World Cup selection. Cricket South Africa rejected the offer. They could’ve approached the decision – rightly or wrongly – differently.

    Transparency, from the start

    • A full day prior to the announcement of the World Cup squad gave CSA more than enough time to prepare a statement on De Villiers’ offer. This wasn’t simply a random proposal from any player, but a generous offer from a former national captain and arguably the country’s best-ever batsman – and deserved a formal, public response.

    Compromise, concession

    • The notion that the selection panel, franchise system and players would’ve felt undervalued had De Villiers been named in the squad is hardly credible. Again, this wasn’t just the exclusion of an average batsman, but the collector of almost 10,000 ODI runs at an average of well over 50. Rassie van der Dussen or Aiden Markram, one surmises, would’ve comfortably taken a backseat to the inclusion of De Villiers.

    Second, third chances

    • Anrich Nortje’s, and later Dale Steyn’s exits from the squad presented an opportunity to rethink the original decision, provided de Villiers was still available. Granted, replacing a fast bowler with a specialist batsman would’ve been viewed as unorthodox, but less so for a squad laden with seamer all-rounders, and lacking middle-order firepower.

    Presented a united front

    • Linda Zondi’s remarks didn’t necessarily inspire confidence that the communication between Ottis Gibson, Faf du Plessis and the selection panel is good. Zondi suggested that he only received the new of De Villiers’ offer long after Gibson and Du Plessis knew. Zondi, at least, should have chosen unifying words.

    No posturing about  ‘morals and principles’

    • Acknowledgement of deep values and ‘doing the right thing’ is tough to swallow when Cricket South Africa are being sued by the South African Cricketers’ Association – and were the subject of several court proceedings during the collapse of the Global League T20. The high road is dangerous when a middle ground can’t even be found.

    Photo: Gallo Images 

    Post by

    SA CRICKET