Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has congratulated Cricket South Africa (CSA) on the team selected for the ICC World Cup in the sub-continent next month.
“I would like to congratulate the selectors for assembling a strong team, with a combination of experience, youthful exuberance and flair to represent and fly the South African flag in the Asian Sub-Continent at the ICC Cricket World Cup,” said Mbalula in a statement on Wednesday.
“The team as assembled by is a reflection of the present status quo in Cricket. We have stated that our approach this year is to ensure that school sport becomes central in producing national talent that will bring joy and pride to the country,” he said.
” Hence our message to all sports federation is to do away with Quota Systems and focus on increasing participation and creating access to all, especially the disadvantaged, so as to create a pool of talent from which we can select a non-racial and inclusive team.”
He approved the inclusion of Pakistani-born Imran Tahir in the Protea Team.
“This will enhance our ability in the spin-bowling department.
” Tahir’s inclusion in the national team should serve as both inspiration and constant reminder to Cricket South Africa to increase the pace of development and transformation of cricket especially talent identification in schools and communities,” said Mbalula. — Sapa