South Africa to pick team against New Zealand on merit, not racial quota

South Africa will not be having racial quotas when they the team is picked for the first Test against New Zealand, which begins August 19. South Africa Coach Rusell Domingo said players would be selected based on their merit only for the first Test at Durban. He said, “We will continue to do what we’ve always done and that is pick our best eleven players. We are fortunate that it hasn’t been an issue for this particular team,” as quoted by cricket.com.au. The statement comes after a few weeks after, CSA president Chris Nenzani had said the national body wanted a minimum number of black cricketers in all national teams. Although, he gave no details regarding the number of blacks that must be selected. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs New Zealand, 1st Test at Durban

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“There has been nothing officially recommended to me at the moment,” Domingo added. South Africa meanwhile, will be playing in the two-Test-match series, which will be their first return to Test cricket after they lost to England at home early in the year. READ: Cricket South Africa to introduce racial quota in national teams

CSA though, has already introduced quotas for domestic franchise competitions in South Africa where there should be at least 3 black African players in a team.

Cricket, rugby, netball and athletics came under fire from the South African government this year for a lack of post-apartheid racial transformation. Sports minister Fikile Mbalula banned the four sports from bidding for or hosting international competitions until a transformation review next April.

South Africa’s current 15-man squad for the Tests against New Zealand has just two black Africans, Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada.