AB de Villiers voiced his disapproval of the current discourse surrounding South Africa‘s racial quota system ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. He stressed the importance of not allowing such discussions to detract from the significance of a major sporting event like the T20 World Cup.
While acknowledging the ongoing nature of these debates, De Villiers expressed regret that they were taking centre stage at such a pivotal moment. Cricket South Africa (CSA) was criticized for selecting just one black African player, Kagiso Rabada, in the squad for the forthcoming tournament starting in the first week of June.
AB de Villiers slammed Cricket South Africa
De Villiers expressed his frustration, emphasizing that it is disheartening to see these discussions resurface within CSA every time they approach a major tournament.
“…it’s a shame going into a tournament to have the focus on that. I mean it’s nothing new, it’s just a shame,” De Villiers said on Jio Cinema.
De Villiers expressed gratitude for not being involved in management and emphasized that he is merely an observer, considering himself fortunate in that regard.
“Luckily this time around, I’ve had nothing to do with anything over there. I’m just a spectator,” he added.
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South Africa’s racial quota
The African team’s selection policy mandates the inclusion of a minimum of six black players in the national team. Specifically, for T20I and ODI matches, at least two of the required players must be of African-black ethnicity. Moreover, for test matches, a minimum of three African black players must be part of the squad.
However, despite these regulations, the squad currently features only one African black player, Rabada. This discrepancy has sparked controversy within South Africa.
