Border to strike while iron’s hot
Win over Northerns key to hopes Players call for fair deal from CSA
THE Border semi-professional cricket team will be aiming to continue where they left off this past weekend and build on their first triumph of the Sunfoil Cup Three-Day Competition when they face Northern Cape in their fourth game of the season.
Border will be looking to have a solid training session in Kimberley today, ahead of tomorrow’s match and will want to get used to the conditions as quick as possible.
“We want to get in a good session tomorrow (today) and have a relaxing night so we can be fresh and ready for Thursday’s start,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
After playing their last two matches at Buffalo Park, Border will now play at Diamond Oval where they will play a three-day match before then playing a CSA Provincial OneDay Competition clash on Sunday.
Border opened their season with three-day losses away against North West and at home against Western Province, while they also lost their first one-day game at North West, while their match against WP was washed out.
The past weekend against neighbours Eastern Province, however, saw Border finally get the breakthrough they needed in the threeday format as they claimed a close three-wicket victory on the final morning.
While they lost the subsequent T20 match the following day, it was the three-day game that Border needed to get back on track, and this THE group of disaffected black African cricketers and administrators who raised their concerns in a letter to Cricket South Africa (CSA) last week want clear direction from the game’s local organising body.
They raised – among others – concerns around the selection of black African players in the national team and sought to have a meeting with CSA’s president Chris Nenzani and chief executive Haroon Lorgat once they returned from the Proteas’ current tour of India. A source who did not want to be named, told Times Media that black African players needed to know where they stood within CSA’s selection policy framework.
“The biggest issue black African players have is that they want to be picked for the right reasons. week’s game will be important in building on the momentum they have created.
Northern Cape were beaten heavily by WP in their first game, but bounced back to beat Free State in their last match.
So both teams will be coming into the match off the back of low scoring three-wicket wins. However, Border played just a few days ago, so they should still be sharp, while Northern Cape’s last match was over three weeks ago and they will need to find their feet again.
“Back-to-back games are always good, especially coming off a threeday win, so we want to keep going,” said Plaatjes.
“We are always looking for the win and the guys want to build some momentum now.”
In the one-day competition game Border will be desperate to get a win or the defence of their title may be out of their reach.
Having lost one and had a no-result after the WP washout, Border sit third from bottom on two points, trailing leaders South Western Districts (SWD) by six points.
Only the top team will go through to the final to play the top team in pool B, so a win is very important if Border wants to keep up with the frontrunners.
“Everybody is aware how important this game is,” said Plaatjes.
The next four days of cricketing action could define how Border’s season will turn out.
The three-day match gets under way at 10am tomorrow while Sunday’s one-day game starts at 9:30am. “Then once picked they want to be given proper opportunity. The selectors and the coach have to start taking responsibility.”
Part of the criticism has been that once selected – especially in touring squads – black African players get limited game time.
According to the source, coach (Russell Domingo) and the selectors should all share responsibility. The current crop of selectors consists of Linda Zondi (convener), Ashwell Prince, Errol Stewart and Hussein Manack, but their predecessors, according to the source, are as culpable.
“Selectors can’t wash their hands off this. There is always a selector on tour and the captain gets a say as well.
“At provincial level it’s the same. The guys have to take individual responsibility.
“Look at a guy like
Andile Phehlukwayo at the Dolphins. He finally gets a chance and look at how he’s played in the last couple of games and he’s only 19.
“How many missed opportunities have we had like that?”
Times Media understands that the South African Players Association (Sapa) tried to assist the players in the matter but their offer was declined.
Sapa chief executive Tony Irish wasn’t available for comment as he, too, is out of the country.
In the absence of Nenzani, Lorgat and spokesman Altaaf Kazi, Times Media sought comment from CSA’s transformation manager Max Jordaan.
Jordaan surprisingly revealed, he has not had the opportunity to peruse the letter.
“I haven’t seen the content of the letter. I am aware of the letter though. The president is dealing with the matter.”