Johannesburg: When questioned about the predominantly white composition of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, South Africa coach Rob Walter emphasized that his primary focus is building a successful Proteas team.
He explained, ‘To achieve that goal, I must select the squad with the greatest potential for success.’ While such a statement might seem routine from most national coaches, in Walter’s case, it signifies a shift in policy by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe. CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki acknowledged concerns about the squad’s racial balance but cited ‘cricket reasons’ for the selection.
The 15-member squad for the tournament in the United States and the West Indies features nine white players, one black African, Kagiso Rabada, and five players of mixed race or Asian origin. This composition marks the most white-dominated South African squad for an International Cricket Council event since 2016.
Following the 2016 T20 World Cup, then-Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula criticized CSA for slow transformation in the sport, leading to restrictions on bidding for major international events. Subsequently, CSA implemented formal targets for racial representation, including a maximum of five white players in an 11-member team and a requirement for at least two black Africans.
