Did SMS cost Proteas World Cup?
The 2015 Cricket World Cup has embroiled itself in a shocking new revelation, with Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Logart reportedly forcing South African coach Russel Dominigo via a SMS to include an extra colored player in the playing eleven against co-hosts New Zealand in the first World Cup semi-final last week.
Logart apparently texted Dominigo at about 1:00 a.m. Zealand time on the day of the crucial match, where he demanded the inclusion of either Farhaan Behardien for Rilee Rossouw, or dropping Kyle Abbott for Vernon Philander. Logart evidently refuted signing the team off with only three colored players in it, namely Imran Tahir, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy.
This absurd gesture from Logart incited intense fury in the South African camp, with captain AB DeVilliers and Vernon Philander indignantly refusing to play, after a long and arduous discussion with the coach, but were reportedly forced to take the field with the team where Sean Abbott was replaced by the unfit Philander, against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Haroon Logart, erstwhile outrightly denied such speculations claiming he had never witnessed such non-sense in his tenure till date.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula promulgated it as a desperate act of Apartheid Apologists and promised not getting deterred by their mischief.
Sean Abbott had produced some majestic performances in the world cup, scalping 9 wickets at an average of 14.44 as opposed to Philander who was incessantly being plagued by injury and could manage only 4 wickets at an average of 33.75.