‘Transformation policy in SA cricket to continue’

The transformation policy in South African cricket would go ahead even though some forces were against it, said Board president Norman Arendse.

The transformation policy in South African cricket would go ahead even though some forces were against it, Board president Norman Arendse has said.

The Cricket South Africa boss said he was not trying to push his own agenda but merely following the transformation policies of the Board.

The issue came to a head during team selection for the tour of Bangladesh with national coach Mickey Arthur protesting the policy of having a pre-decided number of coloured players in the squad.

“I had on three occasions, before the team left for Bangladesh, asked for the policy to have six players of colour in the team to be met. But on three occasions my call was rejected by some of the selectors and that is why there was a deadlock,” said Arendse.

He reaffirmed his committment to transformation of South African cricket and said he would continue to campaign for it irrespective of what others have to say.

“I will not deviate from our commitment to give all cricketers a chance in South Africa. Transformation does not mean that we will have quotas,” Aerendse said.

He was speaking on the radio programme ‘Game Plan’ on the country’s national SAFM radio yesterday following the earlier backing he received from the Parliamentary Committee on Sport in Cape Town. It said the transformation policy was unstoppeable and Arendse should proceed without any fear.

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The committee held the hearing amidst reports that there was a move to table a motion of no confidence against Arendse at a special meeting in Johannesburg this week.

“We are committed to having a free and fair South Africa without fear – we don’t want to create a Kenya or a Zimbabwe here – but there is a section of the community that pushes us to the limit and tries to make us regret what Nelson Mandela has done for this country, and we don’t want to regret that,” Portfolio Committee chairperson Butana Komphela said.

He also called for some of the players who had ganged up against Arendse to be called back and fired.

Arendse said there was all-round agreement with the composition of the one-day international team to Bangladesh now chosen.

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He also rejected newspaper reports about any move to oust him.

“I contacted all the provincial presidents about the reported move and all of them have given me an assurance that there was no such move,” Arendse added.