Cricket News Today: Gautam Gambhir questions KL Rahul's constant change in batting position, Priyam Garg lauds bowling attack and more - 5th February 2020

#3 Bavuma rubbishes selection claims based on colour

Bavuma insisted that he was in the team due to his performances and not because of the transformation rule

Returning South African batsman Temba Bavuma rubbished any reports of his inclusion in the team owing to his colour and not performances. He stated that his good performances for his state franchises had helped him make a comeback at the back of some heavy runs recently.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bavuma stated that he was in good form lately and also congratulated Quinton de Kock on his superb hundred as captain. Bavuma, who scored 98 himself, rued a golden opportunity to score a well-deserved ton.

"It has been hard. It's not so much the dropping part, all players get dropped, everyone goes through slumps of not scoring well. The awkwardness from my side is when you are thrown into talks of transformation."

"Yes, I am black, that's my skin. But I play cricket because I love it. I'd like to think the reason I am in the team is because of performances I have put forward in my franchise side, and also for the national team, whenever I have been able to. The discomfort was there, having to navigate me around all those types of talks."

"The one thing that irks me is when you are seen through the eyes of transformation. When you do well, transformation is not spoken about but when you do badly, transformation is thrown at the top of the agenda."

"I have a serious problem with that. We've got to be able to take the good with the bad. If transformation is bad when black African players are not doing well, then when we are doing well, let's also recognize transformation for what it's done."

Full article: Temba Bavuma rubbishes selection claims based on colour: 'Yes, I am black, that's my skin'