‘No club cricketer deserves a salary or stipend’

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How much do cricketers get paid

Posted By: Editorial June 1, 2022

2021-22 Western Province convenor of selectors Nazeem White does not support club cricketers being paid salaries.

Several Western Province Cricket Association premier league and first division clubs pay players fixed monthly amounts. Funds are largely raised by the club and private or publicised sponsors.

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“Some clubs act like they are Manchester United in the way they go out there an get players,” White told Club Cricket SA.

“I believe no contracts should be signed with players at club cricket level.

“When you are telling a player he is going to get, say, R5000 per month, but then he doesn’t perform well, it doesn’t help the team spirit.

“When the team knows a player is getting paid something and he does not do well, it doesn’t help the team culture.

“I don’t believe any player deserves a monthly stipend or salary in club cricket.

Also read – WP convenor of selectors Nazeem White: You can’t just look at club cricket scores

Team, not individual, incentives

White has suggested payments, if at all, be structured around incentive schemes for teams instead of stipends and salaries for individuals.

“All players, though, could be offered incentives – no matter what that incentive might be,” he added.

“Incentives are the way to go, spread across the whole team. Those incentives should not be for any players in particular, but rather across the whole team.”

White was appointed for one season. Whether Western Province extend his tenure – or advertise or retain the role – remains in the balance.

“My term is up and I need to think about reapplying or not, if Western Province put the processes out for the position again. If I’m not the convenor of selectors, then I hope whoever is puts a big focus on club cricket,” he continued.

Also read – WP convenor of selectors backs Jody Lawrence, Ruben Senekal, Zac Elkin

Jeopardising team unity

Green Point Cricket Club compete in the WPCA premier league. They finished in third position to first-placed Durbanville Cricket Club and second-placed Rondebosch Cricket Club in the 2021-22 premier league.

“The paid player debate has always been an interesting one. How the club approaches the matter is important,” said Green Point Cricket Club chairman Marc Callanan.

“If clubs go about it in a manner that undermines team unity, then, yes, it quite clear it will have negative impacts, which many have experienced in the past.

“Both parties need to consider the club culture and have honest assessments on whether the two parties will fit together. If not, we believe it should not be forced through financial means.

“Consideration needs to be given to the individual’s livelihood. If cricket is the bread and butter of the individual, then that is very important.

“From a broader perspective, would an individual be lost to the game indefinitely without financial incentive – and what would Western Province cricket’s view be on losing or reducing depth in the game at a time when we need to see it increase?

“Clubs are also at different spectrums of competitive league cricket and should always operate within financial means and not overreach. As far as we have seen, players that are ultimately homegrown and are from the surrounding community offer many positives.

“It should always be the goal of clubs to grow cricket in their immediate community, which forms a strong and sustainable growth path. Paid players or players that are incentivised should always be held to account in growing cricket locally.”

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