Bacher Defensive Over Griquas' A Section Status (09 Apr 1996)

9 April 1996

BACHER DEFENSIVE OVER GRIQUAS` A SECTION STATUS

Trevor Chesterfield

It has been more than a 100 years since Kimberly was the wealthy capital of South African mining industry and holders of the Currie Cup. And the joke is that it is likely to be another 100 years before they next lift a major domestic crown.

Yet in their wisdom, the United Cricket Board has bestowed on Griqualand West their long-sought A Section status, bringing to nine the number of senior provinces in the country. While Griquas` idyssey in search of a meaningful identity has taken them 35 years, Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the UCB, yesterday defended (on behalf of the executive) their decision to grant Mike Doherty`s board a long-cherished dream.

So while they are dancing on the bar counters in their favourite watering hole over the UCB decision, already whispers of protest over the decision, taken at the week-end have started growing.

Although Dr Bacher said the UCB`s view is that Griquas have "met our objectives to spread the game without diminishing the strength of the (A Section) competition" there are genuine fears the competition will be diluted.

Australia, where the domestic competition has long been regarded as the best in the world today, has six sides - three less than South Africa. Dr Bacher underlined the UCB commitment to Griquas` promotion by suggesting that "since unity, their performances have met our criteria for promotion." But there is little doubt that provinces such as Easterns and Western Transvaal are far from impressed. (Dr Bacher in fact hinted they were "very dissappointed.")

But as they have been included in a revamped B section with two divisions (Northern Transvaal B have been pushed into the second tier despite out-playing teams such as Eastern Province B and Western Transvaal in recent years) they do have a chance to sort out their act. The UCB is hoping to persuade the ICC to grant Division 1 first class status, but they`ll run into trouble on that score. Division 1 consists of the B teams of Western Province, Transvaal, Natal and Eastern Province along with Easterns (Eastern Transvaal) and Western Transvaal. Division 2 include Northerns B, Border B, Free State B, Boland B, Zimbabwe Baord XI and Namibia.

A beaming Doherty said it was "tremendous news for sport, not just in Kimberly, by the whole of the Northern Cape," adding, "we`ve been working hard for this day." The bottom lone, of course is that promotion means that Kimberly will have something to offer their homegrown talent.

The UCB have trimmed to 14 the number of contracted players until June 31 next year. The players are those who went to the World Cup and shortly leave for Sharjah. Categories and earnings will be announced at the end of April.

A new domestic sponsor for first-class competition is to be announced later this month after South African Breweries decided to step down after 24 years. The breweries will however continue to sponsor the test series and the test squad until the end of the 1999/2000 season.