AfriForum submitted a report on political interference in South African cricket to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The report was also released today during a media conference and points to political interference in cricket from 1998 onwards. It also offers statistical findings on the impact of this interference.

The aim of AfriForum’s study is not to highlight performance differences between races; however, because of the forced implementation of race quotas, the effects of these policies must be examined. The strict enforcement of racial quotas means that race – and not merit – has become the primary selection criterium, which compromises the quality of the sport.

AfriForum requests the ICC in its letter to declare the practices and policy of Cricket South Africa (CSA) as a violation of the ICC rules and regulations, and to rule that CSA exercises undue political influence. The organisation also requests a guideline to be issued to CSA with the express order to review its point of view on its team selection policy.

“All through history, the ideal of sport has always been one of healthy competition and meritocracy. Every athlete competes to be the best in their sport or to obtain a place in a team with the best players. Political interference in sport is a direct attack on this age-old ideal, and, as AfriForum’s report shows, CSA is high on the ladder of political interference in sport,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for strategy and content at AfriForum.

Ronald Peters, AfriForum’s manager for sport, says that the decline of cricket as a result of political interference has been allowed for far too long. “It is essential for the ICC to now intervene and prohibit racial discrimination and political interference. This interference has more than just a negative impact on the standard of professional cricket played locally or internationally – it is also driving the cricket community apart.”

Read the report here.