The full list of players proposed for Friday, 25 January 2019’s Cape Premier League auction was released this week. Several premier league and first division A club representatives have since questioned pertinent exclusions and inclusions.
Why are there some glaring omissions?
The list was compiled based entirely on statistics provided by WebSports from the 2018-19 and 2017-18 Western Province Cricket Association premier league and first division A seasons.
The majority of the names are justified, but there are some intriguing absences. Arguably and statistically, Western Province Cricket Club’s Wesley Bedja, Cape Town Cricket Club batsman Mathew Goles and others were unfortunate to miss out.
Why have some clubs been allocated larger representation than others?
Durbanville Cricket Club, Bellville Cricket Club and Rondebosch Cricket Club have nine, eight and six players listed, respectively. Brackenfell Cricket Club and Claremont Cricket Club also have six each. Selection was based on individual form, not collective club success, though these are not mutually exclusive.
Some clubs have been represented by just one, two or three players, which is justifiable amid low positioning on the current premier league and first division A logs. Some other clubs are relatively high on the log, but low in auction draft list presence.
Why have foreign players been included?
Claremont Cricket Club’s Darren Stevens, Milnerton Cricket Club’s Max Waller, Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club’s Ian Cockbain and other non-South African cricketers have been named in the list.
Rondebosch Cricket Club’s Shane Getkate has already left South Africa – and the others will likely be back in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world by the time the tournament commences. Regardless, they won’t likely stay or return.
Would some of the under-21 players been included if they were older?
A squad of 16 must be purchased at the auction. Two under-21 players must be acquired, one of which must play every match.
More than 20 players have been categorised as under-21, but might not have featured if older. For example, the draft list might not have recognised Victoria Cricket Club’s Jordan Woolf, Western Province Cricket Club’s Ryan Klein and others as their respective clubs’ leading performers if they were older than 21.
Should current and former international cricketers be allowed to participate?
Several Cape Cobras, including current Proteas batsman Zubayr Hamza and ex-seamer Rory Kleinveldt, are available for the tournament. Hamza and Kleinveldt are affiliated to the University of the Western Cape Cricket Club and Victoria Cricket Club, respectively.
The CPL has been modelled on the Lenasia Premier League and Dolphins Premier League, in which Proteas trio Quinton de Kock, Imran Tahir and Morne van Wyk have participated. There are pros and cons to international cricketers playing in an amateur club cricket competition.