Sustainability of the sport most important: Pholetsi Moseki

South Africa’s cancelled ODI series against Australia haven’t done them anything good. With direct qualification to ODI World Cup 2023 looking a dream for the Proteas, Cricket South Africa (CSA) have issued a statement on the abandoned series. 

It should be mentioned that cash-strapped CSA is planning to organise a new T20 competition with six teams during the month of January, which would have collided with Proteas’ tour of Australia.

The chief executive of the South African Cricket Board, Pholetsi Moseki, acknowledged that the qualification looks tough. But, he said, “It has made automatic qualification (for the World Cup) very difficult for the team,”.

South Africa are placed 11th on the Super League points table with just 49 points from 13 matches. However, with the Australian tour looking unlikely in future, South Africa might have to forego 30 points which might be awarded straightway to Australia.

Moseki admitted that it was tough having discussions with the captain and coach of the team. He said, “One of the hardest conversations that I’ve had is with Temba (Bavuma) and Mark (Boucher), last week, to explain what’s been happening, and this is where we landed. They were bitterly disappointed because they understood the implications,”

He also mentioned that South Africa were in discussions with Australia to reschedule the series putting up five options on board but couldn’t reach an agreement.

He was asked what SA’s absence from the World Cup would mean, to which he replied, “ It will be a disaster for us. We are hosting the 2027 tournament, remember,”

Moseki said he understood that South African people would be disappointed, considering it to be a decision taken to focus on the T20 league rather than World Cup.

“Even the players thought so as well. But for us, this is not just a T20 competition, this is really about the sustainability of our game,”

“It’s a short-term sacrifice, but it’s one we have to make for the long-term sustainability of the game in this country,” he concluded.

CSA, having invested millions of dollars in the new competition, is serious about putting up a show, even if that means playing World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe next year.