Domingo yet to be briefed on NZ series targets

South Africa coach Russell Domingo has not yet been given a mandate about the targets his bosses expect him to implement for the New Zealand Tests. The two-match series is the first South Africa play since last month’s announcement that CSA will impose selection criteria relating to the number of players of colour in all national teams in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed with the country’s sports ministry.

“There has been nothing officially documented to me at the moment. We will continue to do what we have always done and that is pick our best XI players,” Domingo said.

South Africa have – officially between the late 1990s and 2002, and unofficially since then – adhered to a policy of an average of four players of colour in a starting XI. The most recent example of this application came during the 2015 World Cup semi-final when Vernon Philander, who had battled injury through the tournament, was picked ahead of the in-form Kyle Abbott after South Africa’s captain, coach and convener of selectors had met with the CEO, who reminded them of the need to pick the best XI “bearing in mind transformation guidelines.”

In the immediate aftermath of the tournament, domestic targets in South Africa were increased. Each franchise was required to field at least six players of colour, of which at least two had to be black African, up from five players of colour the season before, but CSA maintained there was no pressure to do the same at the national level.

However, in April this year, CSA became one of four national federations to be banned from bidding for or hosting major tournaments by the sports ministry as punishment for the slow rate of transformation. The ministry deemed teams that comprised 60% players of colour to be representative. …

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