South African PG Bison U 15 squad for the U-15 World Cricket Challenge

A squad of 42 selected players have been involved in trials at the University of Pretoria for the past four days and convener of selectors Denis Lindsay has chosen a team of boys who truly reflect South Africa's people. With no quotas imposed, the team was selected purely on merit. The boys will represent South Africa at the U15 World Cricket Challenge in England from 26th July to 10th August.

"This team is fully representative of the people of South Africa. They have been chosen on merit and this in itself shows that the development program is really beginning to pay dividends," said Keke Dali, the UCB's chairman of schools cricket.

UCB managing director Dr Ali Bacher agreed that the selection of this team was significant because of its natural representivity without the need for quotas. "The makeup of this team, which was selected on merit, shows that the UCB's vision of cricket becoming the people's game is achievable," he said. Dr Bacher described this team selection as a "milestone. This is the most representative team ever selected for South Africa."

PG Bison managing director Chris van Niekerk added that the selection of the Under 15 team was more than encouraging for development of cricket. "This really gets the emotions and the passion for cricket going," he added.

And the star of the moment, captain Mandilakhe Dipha of Eastern Province, beamed his pride and promised to do his best to lead his squad in England. Dipha only started playing cricket at the age of 12 but he admitted the game had taken over his life.