A tricky balancing act that involves achieving financial integrity and protecting the Proteas will determine the success of the task team created by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to keep the sport viable.
The task team is expected to meet tomorrow, with various focus groups reporting back on initial proposals discussed since its formation last month.
Most critical to the future of the sport is its finances, which on a global scale are expected to take a severe hit from 2027, when new international broadcast rights deals are established.
Several insiders have revealed that the current provincial structure featuring 15 unions will be slashed, with eight or 10 professional teams seen as more financially sustainable. However, those on the task team pressing for that reduction have also faced a push back about how a new structure would look in terms of matches being played.
“We have to remember that 90% of our revenue results from the Proteas, and we have to be cognisant of keeping that brand strong,” said one official, who requested anonymity.
There has been criticism from many provincial coaches regarding the number of matches played domestically this season, and what effect it could have on the Proteas in the future.
The national teams are presently on a sound footing, having recovered from the damage caused by the administrative collapse that almost wrecked CSA financially and reputationally five years ago. The senior men’s and women’s teams have made it to the finals in the T20 World Cup. The men are in the final of the World Test Championship and at junior level the under-19 teams have also qualified for the knockout stages in international age group competitions.
CSA’s broadcast deals depend on that level of success being maintained, but that needs to be sustained by strong provincial structures where players are developed.
On a very practical level, the effects of the reduced match time can be seen for some of the country’s leading young players. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who lit up the SA20, has played only one first-class match — in which he scored a century — and 45 white ball games, the majority of those in the T20 format.
Kwena Maphaka has four first-class matches under his belt — including one Test — and he played 36 limited-overs games.
Their preparation for Test cricket will be compromised if a new structure doesn’t create more matches, and as two of South Africa’s brightest young talents, the Proteas would be hindered as well.
The proposals of the task team will go before the Members Council, CSA’s highest decision-making body — which comprises the 15 provincial union presidents — towards the end of April.
Domestic men’s cricket is currently split between eight teams in Division One and seven in Division Two, with promotion/relegation determined by where teams finish across the three competitions.
There are also six women’s provincial teams, which play a 50-over and T20 competitions.
The current model is regarded as unsustainable by CSA, which led to the formation of the task team, which is chaired by CSA CFO Tjaart van der Walt, and includes CEOs, provincial presidents, coaches and members of the CSA senior executive.
Broadcast rights have been the lifeblood of the professional game, but drastic changes internationally will make sourcing revenue harder. Streaming is an option, but cricket in South Africa doesn’t enjoy the kind of broad interest it does in India, nor are the Proteas as big a brand as the Springboks, whose popularity has skyrocketed because of their World Cup success.
The task team must also propose future streams of income that can be evaluated, but success in that area depends on the Proteas remaining strong.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.