South African crickets racist policy

madaboutlfc · February 8, 2008

Proteas embroiled in race row

February 08, 2008

SOUTH African cricket was in turmoil after the coach and president of the board accused each other of abusive behaviour in a row over the number of black players to tour Bangladesh.

After Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse laid formal charges against coach Mickey Arthur, accusing him of being “abusive and disrespectful'' and “cocking a snoop at his employers' policy of (racial) transformation'', Arthur hit back by filing a counter-complaint with the board.

“This has reached ridiculous proportions,'' Arthur said.

“I've laid a counter charge against him, because he was just as abusive to me as I was to him.''

Sources within the national set-up said Arendse and Arthur had a furious row after the initial 14-man squad contained only four players of colour, with veteran opener Herschelle Gibbs left out after a string of low Test scores.

While the board does not have official racial quotas, selections are expected to reflect so-called transformation targets that half the squad should be players of colour.

Arthur insisted that he was committed to bringing more black players into the national set-up but said there had to be some flexibility.

“I have no problem with transformation and I am very willing to work for transformation. However, seven players of colour in a squad of 14 is a target and not a policy.''

Arendse is understood to have vetoed the initial 14 names, which included a number of white players who have been struggling with injury.

The upcoming fast bowler Monde Zondeki was also omitted from a tour seen by many observers as a perfect opportunity for players to cut his teeth.

The squad was due for the two-Test series, beginning in Mirpur on February 22, was due to have been announced earlier this week but it was still not clear when it would now be released.

Arendse was quoted in reports as saying that Arthur's position had become “untenable'' after he told the president not to interfere in selection matters.

“The more I was asking questions about transformation, the more (Arthur) said they did not have a transformation policy,'' said Arendse.

“If a coach says, 'There's no transformation policy' (among selectors), if he says 'Sorry, I'm not prepared to implement Cricket South Africa's policies', then his position is untenable.''

The charges are to be dealt with by CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, who is likely to set up a disciplinary committee hearing.

“I am very sad that this has happened,'' said Majola.

“We had such a wonderful few weeks, with a great send off for Shaun Pollock (who retired on Sunday), and cricket was on a high and now we are getting publicity for all the wrong reasons.''

While fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and Ashwell Prince are both regulars in the Test team, Gibbs was one of only three black players in the starting line-up in the Proteas' last ODI last weekend against the West Indies.

Rows over the lack of black players also played a large part in the departure of Springbok coach Jake White who announced he was quitting only weeks after South Africa won the rugby World Cup last year. Only two black players were in the starting XV for the final in Paris.

Agence France-Presse

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0...7-23212,00.html

February 8, 2008

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