Former Proteas skipper AB de Villiers had threatened to leave the 2015 India tour midway if batsman Khaya Zondo was selected.
See Also: AB de Villiers not sure what future holds for him, wants to stay fit and ready
South African news outlet ‘News 24’ on Thursday (August 13) quoted former CSA President Norman Arendse’s report into the incident, saying that Zondo’s name was in the team sheet on the eve of the 5th ODI in Mumbai and that his ouster from the XI hours before what would have been his debut was “unfair and contrary to the CSA selection policy.”
Dean Elgar had been flown in and featured in the XI in place of the injured JP Duminy and Zondo, despite being part of the ODI squad, had been left out of the XI.
Before receiving this call-up, Elgar had appeared in only five ODIs and had not been considered for selection in the 50-over format for the previous 70 games.
Highlighting Zondo’s treatment during the 2015 India tour, a group of cricketers calling themselves ‘Black Players in Unity’ had written a letter to CSA, arguing that black cricketers were picked in the squad to comply with South Africa’s racial transformation policy but that they were being seen as ‘water carriers’.
Recently, former South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince also raised the issue of Zondo’s unfair treatment through a Twitter thread.
