KwaZulu-Natal retains all its top players

The KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union have hung on to all their top players for 2000/2001, with the 15 Dolphins contracted for next season announced at Kingsmead on Monday.

Notable absentees from the list are former Border batsman Craig Sugden, who is still considering whether to remain in the province of his birth after limited opportunities last season, and bowlers Robbie Macqueen and Keith Storey, who are both likely to remain in Natal.

The KZNCU can still add two names to their contract list before the May 10 deadline, space being left in case any of the current South African players lose their national contracts and for the signing of a fast bowler (believed to be Keith Ingram) from outside the province.

Coach Phil Russell has stated in his end-of-season report that "it is essential that we acquire a bowler with some pace if we are to challenge the very top sides" and if Ingram, who missed last season after back surgery, and left-armer Shaun Adam (knee operation) have recovered completely from their injuries, then Natal could have some riches in the pace department, with Ross Veenstra, player/coach Eldine Baptiste (now qualified as a local player) and Gary Gilder also contracted.

Four players of colour - batsmen Ahmed Amla, Ashraf Mall and Rivash Gobind and spinner Gulam Bodi - are amongst the 15.

The 23-year-old Ingram enjoyed a dream first season for Gauteng in 1997/98, culminating in his man-of-the-match performance in the Standard Bank Cup final against Northerns, when he picked up four wickets. He has been plagued by back hassles ever since, but medical reports suggest surgery has solved the problem.

Off the field, the KZNCU are still looking for a team sponsor to replace the NBS, whose 15-year involvement ended last week, but chief executive officer Cassim Docrat said Monday that there was no need for panic.

"While we had a wonderful relationship with NBS, not having replaced them yet as team sponsors is not a catastrophe. The financial situation of the union remains very good, with the NBS still committed to advertising at Kingsmead. Although we have lost their team sponsorship (+-R500 000 a year), the revenue from their advertising and the free space that their withdrawal now makes available accounts for over a third of that amount. Plus the major sponsorships from Shell, for the academy, and MTN, for development, frees up a lot of money that would have gone to those areas."

Barring a loss of face in terms of image, the KZNCU believes not having a team sponsor will have little effect on the Dolphins' performance, "and, in any case, we are confident that we will have a sponsor by the start of next season - there has been interest from both local and international companies," Docrat said.

The KZNCU are not sitting back when it comes to the transformation of the game in the province and they are confident that the implementation of a three-year programme will not only make the senior team representative of the demographics of the province, but also put right the current problems in Natal club cricket.

According to KZNCU president Robbie Kurz, the United Cricket Board will be making a large allocation of money to club cricket this year and the Natal authorities are determined to put it to good use. "Instead of wasting our time trying to move a few better players into the formerly disadvantaged clubs, we will concentrate our efforts on those weaker clubs to ensure that they are competitive in our premier league."

The KZNCU are concerned that the old distribution of strength in club cricket remains the status quo but, with the help of an offseason development programme, they are hoping to assist the likes of African Warriors, Phoenix, Delta and Chatsworth United to such an extent that they can hold their own with the big boys like Collegians and Berea Rovers. KZNCU vice-president Logan Naidoo said "The picture is not that bleak and we believe our structures will work. We don't want to prescribe to clubs and force them to play so many black players. But we need to help those clubs where circumstances beyond their control - such as African Warriors not having a home ground and having to play at a different venue every week - cause them to suffer."

Contracted players for 2000/2001: Ahmed Amla, Andrew Hudson, Ashraf Mall, Doug Watson, Eldine Baptiste, Errol Stewart, Gary Gilder, Gulam Bodi, Jon Kent, Mark Bruyns, Ross Veenstra, Shaun Adam, Wade Wingfield, Kevin Pietersen, Rivash Gobind.