SA depend on India more than ever

Even the most ardent lovers of T20 cricket may find it hard to get excited about a six-match bilateral series of the games. Six T20 Internationals between the same two teams with nothing at stake except, well, the immediate financial security of the entire game in one of the countries participating.

That may or may not happen, but that was the ‘inside’ word from a well-placed source in India last week. More of that later, but first let’s rewind 18 months to find out how we got there, if we get there.

Throughout the inquiry into the best way to restructure South Africa’s domestic game I supported the return to independent provinces based on history and the fact that five of the six Franchises had, for the most part, been unhappy alliances.

It would provide more opportunities for South Africa’s aspiring young cricketers and even those late bloomers, like Sarel Erwee, who spent six years playing semi-pro cricket for KZN Inland before finally getting his chance with the Dolphins and, now, scoring a century in his second Test for the Proteas.

A natural ‘flow’ system of transfers would be organically created in which the most consistent run-scorers and wicket-takers for the smaller provinces would find themselves playing for the more established teams in the first division and fewer quality cricketers would leave the country seeking game time and career opportunities overseas.

But there was a massive caveat in my support for the ‘new’ era which was, of course, basically a return to the old system in which provinces like Griqualand West (Northern Cape now) could once again celebrate its independence with a history goes back to their formation in 1884. The forced union with Free State cricket was never happy and often acrimonious.

The caveat was that they would have to learn to look after themselves. They would have to cut their own cloth to fit the size of the team they wanted to be. I believed, and wrote from the outset, that there was insufficient money in the game to sustain 15 provincial teams, but I believed the Darwinian principle of ‘survival of the fittest’ would not only apply, but lead to a healthier game. As painful as it would be the teams which could no longer stay in the race, I hoped the domestic would organically find its level of financial sustainability – perhaps 10 teams?

Given the colossal financial pressure Cricket South Africa have been under for the last four years, I made the natural but, as it turns out, rash assumption that their decision to go ahead with the 15-province structure would be based on their ability to generate their own income, even Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Obviously they would need some financial help from the mother-body initially, but not a ‘surviving on handouts’ scenario.

But that is exactly what it is. CSA is paying over R250m to keep the provinces solvent and playing cricket. Some of the larger provinces have been creative and have meaningful sponsors and partners, with the Central Gauteng Lions leading the way with their marketing innovation. But some of the smaller ones are metaphorically sitting on the pavement with a piece of cardboard explaining their poverty.

One of the smaller unions which has been the most efficiently run of the smaller provinces and proudly produced a clean set of accounts in the last financial year which showed they had managed their financial affairs so well that no loss had been incurred. Yet 95% of their income had been CSA’s ‘grant’ while they raised just over R1million themselves. They breed talent in that part of the world, just look at Glenton Stuurman and Ottniel Baartman, but in what universe is that a sustainable business model when the mother-body is so desperately short of cash?

Five years ago CSA had over R1 billion in cash reserves. They have now dwindled to just over R300 million. Despite some desperate cost-cutting measures, it still costs CSA around R750 million to run the game in the country. Money is running out fast. The most recent projections suggest the end of the next summer will be D-day. Debt day.

The only way out, in the short term, is to invite India to play in this country. The four postponed T20Is from the recent tour may be shoe-horned into a tiny window at the end of September. They are worth around R200 million. A band-aid on the wound. The full bandage, of course, is also, only available from India. Bandages don’t last forever. A radical rethink and redesign is needed desperately soon.

In the meantime, India have, apparently, been invited to South Africa in 2023 for a phalanx of white-ball games – as many as six T20Is and four ODI’s. In order to keep their provinces afloat, CSA, too, is holding out for India to keep them afloat. The only man with the reputation, influence and kudos to make that happen is Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith. He has been ostracised by the CSA Members Council and board to the point where he will not reapply for the position at the end of March when his contract expires.

South African Cricket has been fighting to survive financially for years. The savings are dwindling. The last-gasp attempts for survival are short-term. We never hear the truth because it will frighten sponsors away, but the serious sponsors are all gone, and there is no interest from new ones.

The good news are the results of the men’s Proteas team which account for approximately 90% of CSA’s revenue. The bad news, long-term, is that that they are playing “for each other” rather than their employers. It has been said often, by many of the players . It is another short-term problem, with very long term consequences.