Cricket South Africa must shoulder the blame for latest choke

Cricket South Africa are charged with running the sport in this country, but its relationship with the national teams is not conducive to producing results.

The way Cricket South Africa has conducted itself in and around major tournaments recently has been bizarre to say the least.

Temba Bavuma dropped in it by Cricket South Africa

Appointing Temba Bavuma was a gamble likely motivated by CSA’s desire to have their banner moment akin to Siya Kolisi lifting the Rugby World Cup. However it is a move that has cost the team a shot at being competitive at the T20 World Cup.

It doesn’t end there of course, as CSA made the decision to announce that Mark Boucher would be replaced as the team coach before the tournament.

Then asking Boucher to lead the team at a major international tournament anyway, and choosing to make announcements about the future coaches in the middle of the tournament.

If this isn’t sabotage, it is stupidity.

ALSO READ: Proteas crash out of T20 World Cup after shock Netherlands loss

Proteas backed into a corner

With the coach on zero to no footing when it comes to authority and a captain in a crisis of confidence, the Proteas somehow still managed to almost overcome their handicap before a shock defeat to the Netherlands.

The position of Bavuma in the team created a situation which forced the team to accommodate a player whose form was in the toilet

It was seemingly decided that he should open the batting, not because that was his best position but because it would allow the Proteas to recover from whatever damage he has wrought.

To be fair to Bavuma, a player cannot be expected to drop himself and his attempts to stick to the task are admirable but Cricket South Africa really dropped him in the dung.

Another World Cup another choke

The Proteas didn’t take their best players to the tournament, and couldn’t afford to back young Tristan Stubbs because the top order already had one passenger.

In the final ignominious blunder, Bavuma consumed 20 powerplay deliveries to score just 20 runs.

When Bavuma has not opened the batting the powerplay is a great strength of the team but they were hamstrung by politics at the T20 World Cup.

It must be conceded that Cricket South Africa cannot help but feel the effects of political influence as the shocking administration of the organisation has drawn the attention of parliament and the Minister of Sport and giant flagpoles Nathi Mthethwa.

Cricket South Africa continue to try to use the national team to prove they are achieving transformation but haven’t been completing the actual work on the ground.

Transformation and access for all is Cricket South Africa mandate

We should also not try to demonise efforts at legitimate transformation and Cricket South Africa should be encouraged to spend more on efforts to help players from disadvantaged backgrounds thrive in the game.

It’s a tough sell to believe that Cricket South Africa’s detachment from reality is down to wide-eyed idealism though as it smacks of political expediency and ulterior motives.

We haven’t even touched on how Cricket South Africa has mishandled both the Proteas Women’s team and the women’s game in general.

South Africa deserves better from the leaders of cricket, who need to start acting in the best interests of the sport.