Western Province Veterans Cricket Association selectors Razeen Allie and Wilfred Cilliers resigned recently.
Allie and Cilliers were appointed to a five-person selection panel in February 2025. The panel also includes convenor Barney Mohamed and selectors Ebrahim Kriel and Fayyaaz Mohiudeen.
Mohamed’s panel recently selected the Western Province Over-40 squad for next month’s inter-provincial tournament in Port Elizabeth.
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“The way the trial teams were put together – that’s where it went wrong,” Cilliers told Radio 786. Cilliers was being interviewed by former WPVCA chairperson Nazeem White, who was succeeded by current chairperson Fuzlin Levy-Hassen last year.
“We were given 44 names for the trials. We should have selected the teams for the trials based on statistics from the WPVCA league. We should not have received the 44 names from the committee. We should have picked the trial players.
“On the day of the trial, we looked at averages and, because we have superior of knowledge of the game, we could assess the players we would select for the final squad based on the league statistics and performances on the day of the trial.
“With the final squad, I detected nepotism and favouritism. There was no basis or merit for his selection. I strongly said to my fellow selectors that we have to be very careful when we have a senior member of vets cricket and their family member – husband, in this case – is being selected.
“His average, league performance, performed trials – it did not correspond. Are we really going to do this. We looked at his stats for the season, from the past season and his performance at the trial, we couldn’t select him – he was out of his league.
“But the convenor of selectors wanted to put this player in the squad. Four of the five selectors went against this player being selected. But the convenor insisted, ‘The boy can play. I know the boy can play.’
“We vehemently opposed it. The convenor didn’t give up. He relentlessly insisted this player be selected. He asked, ‘Guys, don’t you trust my judgement?’ It’s not about judgement, it’s about what the player produced.
“When there were a few players who couldn’t be in the squad and there were withdrawals, we brought in Shuray Booley – that was agreed on by all of us. And we also nominated Vivian Engelbrecht – four of us wanted him in the squad.
“But then the convenor came back to say he was under pressure from the executive committee. There was no shortage of spinners in the squad, so we didn’t need this extra player as a spinner. We can’t have a player who is in the squad without merit. That is why I have resigned.
“The convenor of selectors failed miserably in his duties. We expected strong, decisive leadership – we didn’t get it. He just kept saying his hands are tied. I will expose any nepotism and favouritism in any cricket I’m involved in. I want fairness and transparency.”
White incorrectly referred to the chairperson as “chairman” multiple times during Saturday’s interview. He also incorrectly referenced the Western Province Veterans Cricket Association as the Western Province Cricket Association twice. White has invited Mohamed to respond to Cilliers’ remarks.
Western Province Over-40 are the reigning inter-provincial tournament champions. They beat Easterns Over-40 in 2023’s final. WP Over-40 were captained by former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince at the time.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Werner Moolman and all-rounders Adi Jackson and Jaco Castle, who were in the 2023 squad, have been selected for the 2025 tournament as well. Moolman has been named captain this year. Former Cape Cobras batsman William Hantam is Moolman’s vice-captain. Levy-Hassen’s husband, Raafick Hassen, has also been selected.