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The cricket specialist website www.espncricinfo.com reported on Monday that Cricket South Africa will appoint a black African selector, perhaps in the new year, and that Ntini is considered a front-runner.
Their South African correspondent Firdose Moonda quoted Jacques Faul, acting CSA chief executive, as saying: “We want to transform and reflect the demographic of our country as best as possible.
“A black African selector is needed to help address representation at all levels.”
The move would be in line with the organisation’s transformation policy.
South Africa’s current national selection panel is headed up by former Test opening batsman Andrew Hudson.
While likely to be welcomed in many circles, should iconic former Proteas star Ntini crack the nod, it will ruffle some feathers considering that during the recent tour of Australia he was outspoken in his criticism of the current team management’s handling of reserve wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile.
The “Mdingi Express” maintained that if Tsolekile was white, he would have had more opportunities to play Tests, although the player himself came out publicly to pooh-pooh the theory.
Now 35, Ntini – who took 390 wickets in 101 Tests and also played 183 limited-overs fixtures for South Africa – continues to turn out for the Warriors in franchise cricket, which would strengthen his claims to be knowledgeable about domestic talent.
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