Racism is a problem but quota system is not the answer

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        The debate of being inclusive in sport has long been debated and will probably go on for years to come. Racism and Diversity have been spoken at length and we know about all the problems that we face in competitive sport. Today, I want to talk about some of the plausible explanations and solutions that have been put forward. One of the intriguing solutions that have been discussed is about having a quota system for a particular race, sex or colour. 

         The year was 2015, and we are at cricket's biggest event in 4 years in Australia, 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Our focus is on South Africa, one of the potential title contenders and they have done really well to make it to the last 4. A batting line up in form, a bowling attack that was firing cylinders throughout the tournament and a captain who was desperate to lead from the front. The night before the semi-final, ABDe Villiers, the SA captain has been asked to include Vernon Philander (a player from mixed-race) by the authorities that prevail. Obviously, this was not in line with what the captain wanted and he had to drop one of his younger bowlers in Kyle Abbott who was in terrific rhythm. Although, the quota system is not explicitly applied by the SA government to cricket, there is passive understanding with the situation always on the knife edge. Read more here: ( https: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/17437833/ab-de-villiers-opens-2015-world-cup-heartbreak-autobiography ) They dropped an in-form Abbott to include a recently recovered player in Philander. As fate would have it, South Africa lost the game defending 281 runs in a match disrupted by rain. 

          May be SA would've lost with Abbott as well, but my point is that they were forced to make that call based on non-cricketing reasons. After that event, many first-team SA players have decided to retire from international cricket and play county cricket on Kolpak deals. In trying to level the field for one community, you made it unfair for the other one. Was it Abbott's fault that he was white?? Was it Philander's fault that he was black?? The answer to both those questions is a big fat "NO". By having this quota system, you may have managed to make the sport more inclusive to one community, but one must really ask the question that if inclusivity of one sector comes at the expense of another sector, is that really fair. I acknowledge the atrocities that have taken place in the past in certain sectors and it is very important that we educate one another to prevent that from happening now or in the future, but sports is supposed to be a level field and it should be about opportunities and fair competition and not about playing politics. I reiterate my point, I understand that racism is a problem in sport and we should find ways to eliminate it, but the quota system is not the way...

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