Is the dearth of money in South African cricket the root cause for the mass exodus of players?

[Savak]

I was shocked to read that international super stars like ABD, Steyn, Morne Morkel e.t.c were on the top most central contracts which pay around $100,000 a year max. Now that is indeed shocking if true because in comparison cricketers in England and Australia just from central contract monthly retainers make around $1-2 million a year outside their endorsements, match fees, T-20 leagues money.

There are many alarming signs for e.g. Graeme Pollock sending an SOS message to the BCCI for financial help because he was in danger of losing his house and he had suffered a stroke and was financially crippled with no one in South Africa to help him.

Boeta Dippanaar when he retired at the age of 30 mentioned that he wanted to go to business school and focus on life outside cricket.

I remember reading an article which claimed that Makhaya Ntini was struggling financially in retirement and similarly Daryl Cullinan himself was also struggling financially after getting divorced from his wife.

I believe Grame Smith in one of the interviews mentioned or let out that he felt he could do better for himself outside international cricket now in retirement.

If all these reports are true, i don't really blame so many bright upcoming players going the Kolpak rule, everyone's first and foremost priority has to be themselves during their prime years and their family. I don't see Cricket South Africa, the South African government or other stakeholders in South Africa or the South African Cricketers Association taking up the cause of fellow cricketers once they are no longer of utility. I think the quota system is a smoke screen in comparison.

 

[Tapeballcricket]

Incompetent corrupt government, what can you say. Hard to believe this country gave the world Nelson Mandela.

 

[UP]

ICC is also to be blamed regarding this because of its financial model. Most of the revenue goes to BCCI now as compared to before when revenue was distributed equally among all boards.

 

[shockbound]

ICC is also to be blamed regarding this because of its financial model. Most of the revenue goes to BCCI now as compared to before when revenue was distributed equally among all boards.

Shh! We dont blame BCCI here.

 

[ARK Rafay]

ICC is also to be blamed regarding this because of its financial model. Most of the revenue goes to BCCI now as compared to before when revenue was distributed equally among all boards.

Then how other boards manages to pay their players relatively better?

 

[cricketjoshila]

ICC is also to be blamed regarding this because of its financial model. Most of the revenue goes to BCCI now as compared to before when revenue was distributed equally among all boards.

What do you mean by most? What percentage?

 

[Markhor]

You cannot divorce South African cricket from the state of South Africa as a whole. The ANC have been corrupt and have presided over a stagnant economy and a weak Rand.

 

[ElRaja]

yep, the rand has halved in value over ten years, the economy is in recession, the upper and upper middle class white population is dwindling, and the ruling body is intent on making the teams more representative, every factor has most likely contributed towards serious dilution of the domestic talent pool.

sa are still producing top quality cricketers and will continue to do so, but after this generation of players, faf, steyn, jp, amla, etc have retired they would have all come through far weaker domestic competitions than the teams before them, let along compared to the teams of the 80s that managed to produce international quality players despite not playing internationals.

 

[cricketjoshila]

On topic:

I hate to say it, but I think we've seen the best of South African sports. It's all going downhill. Besides, one of our main exports are professional athletes.

Unless selection is based on merit, such exports will happen.

I know it from the experience in my country.