‘I am extremely disappointed’ - Mark Boucher on Cricket South Africa’s scheduling and compromises with Test cricket

Former South Africa cricketer Mark Boucher became the latest player to express his disappointment over various players prioritising the SA20 over Test cricket. It is worth noting that South Africa is slated to take on New Zealand in a two-game Test series that is scheduled to begin on February 4. 

South Africa named a squad filled with uncapped players for their series against New Zealand, which became a major reason for the criticism that flew their way from pundits recently. The reason for the Proteas naming inexperienced players in the squad for the New Zealand series is that many veterans are taking part in the SA20. The same saw Boucher reveal that he was extremely disappointed and that the board should take a look at the scheduling.

“I'll be honest with you. I am extremely disappointed, it's got nothing to do with the players. You can't blame the players that have been selected or the players that are not going. I think the scheduling needs to be looked at by CSA, I don't think it's acceptable,” Mark Boucher told SportsBoom.com.

“If I was New Zealand Cricket, I'd be quite disappointed. I understand them not wanting to pull out as well because the World Test Championship points are at stake, but I do think that we in SA need to sit down, have a hard look at ourselves, at the scheduling, and find a way to make it right,” he added. 

SA20 is good for the public watching: Boucher

Furthermore, Mark Boucher did admit that the SA20 is good to watch for the public, but it should not be prioritised over international cricket, and he opined that he is not the only professional player with a similar mindset.

“SA20 is good for the public watching. It is very well supported, but we can't have that in place of a Test series against a very, very strong New Zealand team away from home, so as a former player, and I know I'm not alone, there are probably a lot of guys who would speak about it as passionately as me,” Boucher concluded.