Sports minister Gayton McKenzie says CSA is testing his patience over its lack of transformation.
Transformation in cricket has been a big taking point this week after the EP Warriors were docked log points for only fielding two black Africans among the required six players of colour (instead of three) in a One-Day Cup match against the KZN Dolphins last month.
It cost coach Robin Peterson’s team a place in the playoffs.
Eastern Province Cricket president Donovan May defended the selection, saying the conditions in Durban required another spinner and they didn’t have a black African spinner.
The Proteas don’t have such a stringent quota for each match, and are required to meet “targets” over the course of a season.
In their recent Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand, the Proteas had four players of colour in their XI, including three black Africans.
“You can’t say this is a South African team, then you have one black person during the World Cup, the biggest spectacle. It is the highest form of disrespect,” McKenzie told News24 after Wednesday’s budget speech in Cape Town.
“The people in cricket are testing the patience of government, my patience. You can’t do that if it was a case of, if you look at the top players, they are black.
“I’m one person that believes the best sportsman must be on the field. I believe in that, but who says the white guy is the best sports person? There’s the white guy is the best, the coloured guy is the best, the Indian guy is the best.
“We mustn’t even look at the colour, but you can’t tell me … what message are you giving that black people are not talented. That’s what you are saying. Cricket [South Africa] gaan vir hulle hard vasloop binnekort [are going to hit a brick wall].”
Photo: Chris Hyde/ICC via Getty Images
