Former Australian captain Steve Waugh slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other major cricket boards, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), accusing them of overlooking Test cricket.
Waugh's comments came after South Africa decided to prioritize its T20 league, SA20, over Test cricket, as Cricket South Africa (CSA) named a weakened Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand in February 2024.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) named a second-string team for the New Zealand tour with seven uncapped players, including a new captain, for the Test series, starting on February 4, 2024.
This New Zealand versus South Africa Test series is clashing with the upcoming SA20 2024, in which top South African players are set to participate, resulting in CSA not picking them for the Test series.
Read Also: Sachin Tendulkar sends wishes for a happy and fulfilling New Year 2024
Steve Waugh told the Sydney Morning Hearld: “Obviously, they don't care. It's going to happen if the South African cricket board are any indication of the future, keeping their best players at home.”
He added, “If I was New Zealand, I wouldn't even play the series. I don't know why they're even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?”
Earlier, Waugh raised his voice on Instagram over CSA’s move in a long post.
The Aussie had written on his Instagram handle: “Is this a defining moment in the death of Test cricket? Surely the ICC along (with) the cricket boards of India, England and Australia must step in to protect the purest form of the game. History and tradition must count for something.
If we stand by and allow profits to be the defining criteria, the legacy of (Sir Don) Bradman, (WG) Grace and (Sir Garfield) Sobers will be irrelevant. It's not the first time South Africa has prioritised its domestic T20 league over international cricket. Last year, they forfeited an ODI series in Australia to have their best players feature in that league.”
Waugh further wrote, “If the ICC or someone doesn't step in shortly then Test cricket doesn't become Test cricket because you're not testing yourself against the best players. I understand why players don't come. They're not getting paid properly.
I don't understand why ICC or the top countries, who are making a lot of money, don't just have a regulation set fee for Test matches which is a premium, so people are incentivised to play Test cricket. Otherwise, they just play T10 or T20. The public are the ones who are going to suffers because it's not the full side playing, so it's not Test cricket. It's pretty obvious what the problem is. The West Indies aren't sending their full-strength side (to Australia this summer).”
He concluded, “They haven't picked a full-strength Test team for a couple of years now. Someone like Nicholas Pooran is really a Test batsman who doesn't play Test cricket. Jason Holder, probably their best player, is not playing now. Even Pakistan didn't send a full side (to Australia).”
(With PTI Inputs)
