 "South African domestic cricket team Warriors have been punished for failing to field enough black African players in the XI. Image: Warriors on X")
A South African provincial team, Warriors, based in Gqeberha, will not participate in the domestic one-day cup playoffs because it played one fewer black African player in a league match without prior explanation or application for an exemption.
Warriors have been penalised five points as a result of failing to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) quota rules. The Warriors have now dropped from third to fourth in the league table and will not participate in the qualifier.
Warriors penalised for fielding one less black African player
The incident took place in the Warriors’ match against Dolphins on 16 February in Durban. In the match that the Warriors won by 126 runs, only two black African players were in their XI rather than the three required.
Warriors had finished third in the league table last week but have been moved to fourth spot after the points penalty, missing out on the playoffs spot. Dolphins have been awarded four points for the fixture, moving to the second place. They will now host Titans in the playoff match on Wednesday.
“Following a comprehensive review and investigation, the CSA Board has determined that the Warriors failed to meet the stipulated transformation requirements during their match on 16 February 2025 against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in Durban,” CSA said in a statement.
“The breach pertained specifically to Clause 3.2.2 of the CSA Administrative Conditions, which requires teams to field a minimum of three Black African players in the starting eleven. The sanctions imposed include loss of match points. Thus, Warriors will forfeit all match points for the match in question and Dolphins will be awarded four match points from the fixture. However, no bonus points will be allocated.
“A monetary Fine has also been included, with 50% payable before the end of the current financial year. The remaining 50% will be suspended for five years and will only be activated if a similar breach occurs within that period.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“As a direct consequence of this sanction, Warriors will no longer qualify for the 1Day Cup playoff, altering the competition’s final standings.”
What are Cricket South Africa’s transformation targets?
The domestic cricket teams in South Africa are required to include at least six players of colour in a playing XI, with three of them being black African. The South African national team has a different target. In the national team, six players of colour, including at least two black African players, have to be a part of the XI. However, the calculation is made on average over the course of a season, allowing the Proteas to play around with their combinations.
What happens if a team fails to meet transformation targets?
Cricket South Africa has provisions to address such transgressions. Teams can contact Cricket South Africa and request an exemption. According to ESPNcricinfo, the process to obtain an exemption is “simple and efficient,” but the Warriors failed to secure one as they cited strategic reasons for not fielding an additional black African player. Exemptions are granted on the grounds of injury, not for tactical reasons.
For example, in the ongoing season, teams like Titans, Lions, and Western Province also failed to meet the required number of Black African players at least once. However, in each case, the teams contacted CSA and received approval for the exemption. They are now required to compensate by fielding an additional Black African player in a later match this season.
Can Warriors take legal action against Cricket South Africa?
ESPNcricinfo says that Warriors have sent a legal letter to CSA after the sanctions despite no appeals process being in place at the board for punishments dished out in failing transformation targets. Also, Warriors had agreed to CSA’s transformation targets at the start of the season.