Shortage of SA-Zim fixtures is due to lack of binding FTP - SACA head

South Africa's shortage of fixtures against neighbours Zimbabwe is mainly due to the absence of an enforceable Future Tours Programme (FTP), rather than a reluctance to play so-called smaller teams, according to Tony Irish, CEO of the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA).

Irish was responding to a claim made by Makhaya Ntini, former South Africa fast bowler and current interim Zimbabwe coach, who told the Sunday Times that South Africa were "not keen on visiting here and don't want much to do with Zimbabwe". Irish explained the issue was not about preference as much as it was about trying to draw up an international calendar.

"The real problem is with the international cricket structure as a whole. At the time of the "Big Three" takeover at ICC, the FTP was de-regulated and the smaller countries lost the benefit of being part of a framework in which all countries were obliged to play all others home and away every four years," Irish told ESPNcricinfo. "The FTP was replaced with ad hoc bilateral agreements with no touring guarantees for the small countries. The schedule is now so packed with these ad hoc agreements that it's difficult to schedule additional tours with a genuine [South Africa] team just to help out another country."

Since 2014, when India, England and Australia led a restructure of the ICC, South Africa have enjoyed more fixtures against bigger nations - including two four-Test series against India and England respectively - but fewer against smaller ones. In that time, they have toured Zimbabwe only once; in August 2014, South Africa played a one-off Test and competed in a triangular ODI series which also included Australia.

Ntini claimed South Africa had not wanted to make the trip and had "nearly pulled out" of the triangular but Irish said he was unaware of any threat not to tour. "I wasn't aware of any suggestion that South Africa wouldn't visit Zimbabwe in 2014," Irish said.

South Africa have included Zimbabwe in the season-opening Africa T20 Cup, which is in its second year. Zimbabwe do not have a team in any of South Africa's other domestic competitions, unlike Namibia, who feature in the semi-professional provincial tournaments which are played in three-day and one-day formats. South Africa have scheduled an A team tour to Zimbabwe later this year but there are no senior men's tours on the calendar.

Zimbabwe had a quiet 2015, in which they hosted no Tests and had only India and New Zealand visit for limited-overs matches. That is set to improve this year, with India currently touring for three ODIs and three T20Is, New Zealand due to play two Tests in July-August and Sri Lanka set to visit on their way to South Africa at the end of the year. They are in the process of revamping their structures with a slimmed administrative office, a new selection panel headlined by the return of Tatenda Taibu and a new-look coaching staff, comprised of South Africans, with Ntini at the helm for now and Lance Klusener as batting coach.

While Klusener did not have his contract renewed with Dolphins, Ntini has not coached in South Africa at all and attempts to open an academy in his home town have been stalled by lack of funding. He was appointed Zimbabwe's bowling coach ahead of the World T20 in March and has taken over the main job in the aftermath of Dav Whatmore's sacking.

Ntini said he believed the faith Zimbabwe showed in him demonstrated an "ability here to identify leadership potential", and he hit out at the South African system for not providing him with opportunities to give back to the game. "It works differently in South Africa where you roast in the system and find that other coaches leapfrog you," Ntini said. "There are talented coaches in South Africa who need to get their international dues."