CSA to meet with sports ministry over transformation targets

Cricket South Africa has admitted to being "caught by some surprise" by the South African sports minister's decision to ban it, along with three other national federations, from bidding for major global tournaments as punishment for the slow pace of transformation. The sanction was announced last month and this weekend CSA will meet with the ministry to discuss what more the cricket board can do to meet transformation targets, to which it remains committed.

"We believe firmly in the need for transformation strategies. We were caught by some surprise by what the minister announced a few weeks ago. It's something which we will understand better when we meet on Saturday," Haroon Lorgat, CSA's CEO, told African News Agency at the announcement for a new sponsor on Wednesday. "Across the board we are held up as the market leaders in so far as good governance, transformation and world-class administration. We'll engage [with the government] and try to understand better why we were short on some of our dimensions."

CSA only fell 5% short of the ministry's target of 60% players of colour in men's national teams but was lagging behind in black-African representation. Only 9% of South Africa's national men's team is black African, which translates to one player in every starting XI. The ministry has not made public what they want this number increased to but may discuss that with CSA over the weekend.

While CSA remains adamant that there is no quota for national teams, its most recent squad - the ODI group to tour West Indies for a triangular series in June - comprises eight players of colour [out of 15], including two black Africans, and indicates a shift in composition. All three players dropped from the previous ODI squad are white while all the new inclusions are of players of colour. Domestically, CSA has not announced any change to the targets that all franchise and provincial teams must field at least six players of colour [which does not meet the 60% requirement], including at least three black Africans.

The ministry's ban does not affect CSA too much because it is not due to host any ICC senior events until at least 2023, with only an Under-19 World Cup in 2020 on the calendar. Lorgat said CSA hoped to use that time to meet the ministry's requirement and have the punishment lifted.

"We haven't set our sights on specific events just yet," he said. "There are some conversations happening but it's very early days at the ICC with future events. I have no doubt South Africa will be a sought-after venue and I'm sure by that time we will have completed our engagements with the minister, finding out where we were short and committed to making things right. The fundamental point is that none of us differ that we need to transform. We know where we want to get to. We've been aggressive in our own way to get ourselves transformed. There's no doubt we'll be able to align ourselves with the minister."