Johannesburg | Tuesday
A SOUTH African Test player has lashed out at Percy Sonn, president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
The Cape Argus reported on Monday that the player, who refused to be named, claimed Sonn knew ”very little about cricket” and accused him of putting ”the skids under us”.
The comments come a week after Sonn interfered with the selection of the side to play Australia in the third Test. Sonn insisted that Justin Ontong, a black player, replace Jacques Rudolph in the line-up.
Later, in an interview on Australian radio, Sonn stated that disgraced former captain Hansie Cronje may be rehabilitated after receiving a life ban last year.
”We’re frankly angry and frustrated by Sonn’s impact out here,” the Test player told the paper.
”South Africa were beaten by a superior team, and we didn’t play nearly as well as we can, but it hasn’t helped team morale that the issue of quotas has been continually on the table.
”If the UCB wants the team to be representative of the wider population, why don’t they go ahead and do it? At least everyone would know where they stand.
”But then he mustn’t expect us to challenge the likes of Australia, England and Pakistan. Sure, we’ll beat Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but that’s about it.
”What makes me very angry is that the players bust a gut when they come out here, and then administrators like Sonn, who know very little about cricket, come out and put the skids under us.”
The player also defended coach Graham Ford, saying that placing blame for the 3-0 Test whitewash was ”ridiculous”. Sapa