Cullinan withdraws after demands are not met

Western Province left-hand batsman Graeme Smith has been selected to replace Daryll Cullinan in the South African team to play against Australia in the second Castle Lager / MTN Test match in Cape Town, the convenor of national selectors, Rushdi Magiet, announced today.

UCB CEO Gerald Majola announced that Cullinan had withdrawn from the South African team in Cape Town this morning and returned to Johannesburg after the UCB was unable to meet certain demands made by the player as conditions for him to take part in the second Castle Lager / MTN Test match which starts at Newlands on Friday. "Unfortunately, Daryll insisted that we give him nothing less than an A Category UCB contract until 2003 for him to play in this match instead of the Test match fee which is paid to non-contracted players. The UCB policy states that a player can be offered a contract in the middle of the season after he has played two Test matches or six One-Day Internationals in that season. Daryll does not fit those criteria. Daryll also demanded that he be given that contract until the 2003 Cricket World Cup. Our current player contracts expire at the end of April and we are not in a position to make an exception for Daryll," Mr Majola added.

Mr Majola said he was disappointed that Cullinan had refused to play for his country under the same circumstances as other players who were called up to the national side. "It is important for us to engender a spirit of national pride in our team and it is vital that players realize the honour playing for South Africa," Mr Majola added.