Cricket SA slammed for 'embarrassing' domestic season: 'There's no care factor'

Kyle Verreynne and Salieg Nackerdien, the two "faces" of Western Province cricket, have launched a scathing indictment on Cricket South Africa (CSA), whom they believe don't care about provincial cricket.

The current domestic structure - it was implemented in mid-2021 to reflect a return to 15 affiliates split into two divisions - is squarely in the spotlight following Free State's (who are still known as the Knights) ignominious relegation after finishing as division one's worst performing team over two seasons and six tournaments.  

It's the first time in 38 years that the province, which is known for delivering stars like Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Rilee Rossouw, Dean Elgar and Gerald Coetzee, won't be in South African cricket's top-flight.

Province themselves have found it tough to decouple from Boland and only finished sixth on the combined eight-team log, their only notable achievement being runners-up in this season's One-Day Cup.

"If there's no money involved, don't let the domestic structure fall by the wayside. You can’t only care about international cricket," said Nackerdien at a post-season media conference this past weekend. "It feels like there's no care factor for the domestic competitions, to be honest. 

"We have coaches' conferences year in, year out. We put stuff on the table, we talk, we exchange ideas, but when it comes to implementation, nothing happens."

One of Nackerdien's biggest gripes is simply the dearth of fixtures for domestic cricketers and its consequent effect on depth.

As it stands, teams only play 21 matches across three formats per season with the possibility of three more should they reach the playoffs of the white-ball competitions.

The previous franchise system, which CSA abolished