'Obviously they don't care' - Steve Waugh slams CSA for naming second string squad for NZ Tests

South Africa named a 14-member squad on Saturday, December 30 for the two-match series against New Zealand beginning from February 04. However, what caught the attention of the experts was the number of new faces in the team as a total of seven debutants have earned their maiden call-ups to the South African Test team.

Uncapped left-handed opener Neil Brand will take over the captaincy duties of the side which will miss their regular players who will be busy playing in South Africa’s premier domestic T20 competition, ‘SA20’. The development hasn’t gone down well with the legendary Australian captain Steve Waugh who has suggested it to be a step towards the death of Test cricket. He even asked New Zealand to not play the series as it shows a lack of respect towards them.

Also Read: South Africa pick new-look squad for New Zealand Tests

"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. 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,” Waugh was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Earlier, Waugh had urged the ICC (International Cricket Council) and other major cricket boards such as the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) CA (Cricket Australia) and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) to step in to protect the oldest and the purest form of the game.

Notably, according to the CSA (Cricket South Africa) ruling, players contracted with the SA20 franchises are not eligible for selection for the Test series. It’s also not the first time that South Africa have prioritised their franchise cricket over international affairs as they had earlier forfeited an ODI series in Australia ahead of the inaugural season of the league.

Further speaking ahead, Waugh suggested the top boards for bringing in a regulation to set good match fees for all Test-playing nations so that people are incentivised to play Test cricket.

People should be incentivised to play Test Cricket: Waugh

"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,” he added.

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Recently, Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf chose to play BBL (Big Bash League) over the ongoing Test series of his country in Australia while West Indies also haven’t named their full-strength side for a two-match Test series down under. Hence, these developments are alarming signs of the slow death of Test cricket as per several experts.