NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

SA board forced to include black player

South Africa's cricket authorities have bowed to political pressure and included a black player in a combined provincial team which began a four-day match against the touring England team today.

Black fast bowler Walter Masimula was drafted in to the Gauteng/Northerns XI at the 11th hour at the expense of former one-day international player Rudi Bryson.

His inclusion followed complaints about the composition of the side from sports minister Ngconde Balfour.

Bryson had the news broken to him by United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) managing director Ali Bacher yesterday.

''I informed him of our decision and apologised and explained that there were broader issues that had to be considered. He accepted graciously,'' Bacher told reporters.

The selectors of the combined side were initially granted UCBSA permission to name a side without black representation.

Although the UCBSA does not impose a formal quota system, it has issued guidelines to encourage all sides to field at least one black player.

When the squad was announced Balfour was quick to condemn the selection. In a statement Balfour said: ''It is disturbing that an all-white side will face the English.

''Not only does this fly in the face of the commitment of the UCBSA to transformation but it is also a slap down to those black players in Gauteng and Northerns who have represented their provinces.

''We are puzzled why players like Walter Masimula and Geoffrey Toyana among others, who have already proved their worth in first class cricket, should be sidelined.''

The selectors of the combined team alerted the UCBSA to the fact that they wished to field an all-white side. They argued that to field a side containing black players would involve leaving international class cricketers on the sidelines.

Bryson was originally promoted from 12th man when fast bowler David Townsend was ruled out because of an ankle injury.

UNI