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Magiet is first black SA selection chief

Rushdie Magiet today became South Africa's first non-white convenor of selectors when he was appointed ahead of three other national selectors, including Mike Procter and Clive Rice.

Magiet, who takes over from the retired Peter Pollock, has served non-stop on the selection panel since unity was achieved between the coloured (mixed-race) South African Cricket Board (SACB) and the white South African Cricket Union (SACU) in 1991.

Magiet, 56, also served as a selector on the SACB for two years before unity and enjoyed a distinguished playing career as an allrounder for Western Province.

''Rushdie is passionate about South African cricket, he is available for 12 months of the year and he is the most experienced of the applicants,'' United Cricket Board (UCB) managing director Ali Bacher told journalists at a news conference.

''I am honoured to be offered the job, and to accept it. My appointment shows the attitude of the UCB which is not to have an all-white team,'' Magiet said before stopping short of an outright commitment to affirmative action.

''We will select the best team at all times for South Africa,'' he said.

South African cricket and other formerly white-dominated sports have come under increasing pressure to promote more blacks into national squads, even at the expense of merit selection.

''Rushdie understands the need to introduce peripheral players, both white and black, into the national team. I am sure we will have a very positive summer with no political anger,'' Bacher said.

England play five Tests in South Africa during the southern hemisphere summer as well as a triangular one-day tournament which also involves Zimbabwe.

UNI