The Proteas’ 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup includes one black African player – fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been named among the travelling reserves, while all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and batsman Temba Bavuma were not selected.
“The system is there to ensure that by the time one gets to the national team, they won’t be questioned as a quota player,” News24 quoted Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki as saying.
“If there aren’t enough black players raising their hands at domestic level, they won’t be enough to get through to the national team.
“It’s a concern that we’re taking a team to the T20 World Cup with only one black African player and, in conjunction with the director of cricket Enoch Nkwe, there were cricket reasons.
“The Proteas’ transformation targets aren’t based on the numbers they send to tournaments, but the numbers are based on how they average over a season.”
Ngidi, Phehlukwayo and Lions leg-spinner Nqaba Peter, meanwhile, have been named in South Africa’s squad for May 2024’s T20I series in the West Indies. This series will precede the T20 World Cup in June.
“Outside of the T20 World Cup, we’ll continue to use our bilateral series to grow our base of players to create international opportunities,” added Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter.
“We need to ensure we’re bought in and are delivering on a process that’s going to change what our team looks like.”
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