South Africa use cash in transformation drive

Johannesburg: South Africa have opted for the carrot rather than the stick to boost the number of top-tier black African cricketers.

Plans to force the six franchises to field at least two black Africans in the three domestic competitions were shelved this weekend in favour of cash incentives.

Teams are expected to field one black African in all matches and, if they pick two for at least 70 per cent of fixtures, the salaries of both will be footed by Cricket South Africa (CSA).

“We are not talking about quotas or sanctions-driven policies,” said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat at the board’s annual meeting in Johannesburg. “We are talking about incentives at franchise level... we want to accelerate transformation.”

Only five black Africans — Makhaya Ntini, Mfuneko Ngam, Thami Tsolekile, Monde Zondeki and Lonwabo Tsotsobe — have represented South Africa since readmission 22 years ago.

The republic was barred from international cricket for several decades because of apartheid.