One of the best players to ever play for South Africa, AB de Villiers expressed his disappointment over the controversy surrounding racial quotas in the national team selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. De Villiers believes discussions about quotas distract from the team’s preparations for the major tournament.
What is the racial quota at South Africa Cricket?
South Africa’s Cricket South Africa (CSA) selection committee faced criticism for picking only one Black African player, Kagiso Rabada, in the 15-man squad. Their policy mandates a minimum of six players of color in the playing eleven throughout a season, including two from the Black African community. With Rabada as the sole Black African player, the team falls short of the quota.
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De Villiers acknowledged that such debates are a recurring issue in South African cricket. He expressed relief at being a bystander this time around. “It’s a shame going into a tournament to have the focus on that,” he stated on Jio Cinema.
“Luckily this time around, I’ve had nothing to do with anything over there. I’m just a spectator. There are controversial moments back home as per usual with the South African squad just before a World Cup,” de Villiers added.
Off-field distractions for South Africa ahead of T20 WC
This selection has reignited discussions about transformation within South African cricket, particularly regarding representation for Black African players. While Rabada is included, other Black African players like Lungi Ngidi find themselves among the travelling reserves. Notably, ODI captain Temba Bavuma was also omitted from the T20 World Cup squad.
The focus now shifts to the team on the field. Can they rise above the off-field distractions and perform well at the T20 World Cup 2024? Having said that, the selected 15-member squad, led by Aiden Markram, looks solid on paper and would love to go deep in the tournament.
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