Members from each province convened in Cape Town on Tuesday 31 October 2023 for the 2023 South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The members in attendance were provided with a detailed report from the SACA CEO, Andrew Breetzke, about the challenges facing the game, the future landscape for players and how SACA is working to manage these challenges while committing to providing world-class player services to members.  Members were also given feedback on the Player Domestic Survey, commissioned at the 2022 AGM, and initiatives SACA was introducing to improve cricket at domestic level.

In addition to the CEO report, the player group elected a new Executive Committee, who will serve over the next two-year period. The new committee comprises of Khaya Zondo (currently serving his second year as SACA President), Dominic Henricks, Grant Thomson (who were both re-elected), Tumi Sekhukhune and Kyle Verreynne.

Farhaan Behardien was recognised for his 12 years of dedicated service as a SACA Executive Committee member, having been involved during the numerous crises that beset the game during his tenure.

Breetzke confirmed the resignation of Dr. Mohammed Moosajee from the SACA Management Board of Directors and thanked him for his belief and commitment to the player cause.  Judith February was confirmed as a new appointee to the Board.

In commenting on the AGM, Breetzke said, “The AGM provided a platform for positive and constructive engagement on the challenges facing the game.  Despite these challenges, I am proud that SACA continued to provide excellent service to members and that SACA has continued to grow and develop during the past 12 months.

As an organisation, we are fortunate to be led by an excellent Players Executive and a highly competent Board of Directors.  We are sad to see Doc Moosajee and Farhaan leaving their positions, but we are delighted to have Judith and Kyle joining the Board and Executive.”

“As the President and a member of the Board, it was pleasing to note the constructive engagement by players. SACA is healthy, strong and in the perfect position to continue supporting and servicing our members.

It has been an administratively challenging year for cricket in South Africa, particularly around minimum standards, fixtures, governance, and sustainability of the game. I would like to thank Andrew and his team for keeping the best interest of the players at the forefront of each discussion” added SACA President Khaya Zondo.

The SACA MVP rankings will be reset back to zero on the weekend as the 2023/2024 domestic cricket season kicks off with a doubleheader round of fixtures in the CSA 1-Day Cup competition.

First introduced in 2013, the SACA MVP formula is entering its 14th edition as South African crickets’ first and most followed statistical ranking system.

The MVP algorithm tracks and measures players and awards points for top performances in each discipline to identify the match winners in any given fixture to determine the Most Valuable Player at the end of the season.

The MVP weighs important contributions such as scoring a high portion of the team’s total runs, claiming top-order wickets, and taking catches. Each individual player’s total points are aggregated at the end of the season, four MVPs will be named for the 2023/24 season, one for each Division 1 domestic competition.

Warriors’ all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel is the current holder of the Overall SACA MVP title after he defeated the competition to win 14,93 points clear of the nearest challenger, 2017/18 winner, Jon Jon Smuts.

“We would like to players all the best for the 2023/24 cricket season.  This is the first full season post covid, with no more bubbles. In previous years, the MVP top ten has been a great indicator of who is next in the Proteas pipeline and with an ICC event each year, and a full schedule for the national and SA A teams, this season is an opportunity to stand up and be counted” said SACA President, Khaya Zondo.

South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has recently joined as a partner on the European Commission co-funded project “HERFORM” focused on the personal and professional development of female athletes entering the high-performance environment.

The HERFORM project is led by Rugby Players Ireland (project proposal co-created by TWIN). SACA along with the Sports University of Cologne, is the research lead. Other project partners are the Spanish Futsal Association and the National Youth Association of Sweden.

The project kicked off with a research phase, currently underway, where female athletes around the world, from various sporting codes completed questionnaires on the variety of obstacles to high-level performance experienced as a female athlete. In September, the data collected will be analysed and focused discussion groups will take place on specific issues. This phase will provide the researchers with an insight and a better understanding of the barriers female athletes must overcome to experience an effective transition into the high-performance environment. The second and third phases respectively will focus on product design and dissemination of best practice.

“Player development is at the core of what we do as an organisation. It is crucial to ensure that the programmes we deliver to players are evidence-based. By having a strong research base, we are confident that we are providing our female players with support that is data-driven and that has been proven to be a benefit to players,” commented Ruan Schlebusch, Dual Career and Development Manager.

The outcomes of the HERFORM Project at the end of the three years will support the SACA Player Plus programme to deliver programmes that reflect female athletes’ needs and set them apart from their male counterparts. In addition, SACA members will have access to a digital training hub that reflect the recommendations that can be applied by the regional SACA Player Development Managers, as well as SACA support staff, working with professional female cricketers.

“This Womens Day, we celebrate the women who came before us who laid the foundation for a research project as important as the HERFORM to happen. Being a part of a project this big gives local players a chance to lend our voice to the global movement in womens sport and the opportunity to help develop a professional product that meets our needs as professional athletes. As a member of the SACA Players’ Executive, it is important for me, that female professional needs and issues are highlighted and addressed. SACA is an organisation run by players, for players and it is important to ensure service delivery to members is of the highest quality” commented Tumi Sekhukhune, SACA Players Executive Member.

“Since 2015, when South African female cricketers first signed professional contracts, the game has developed year on year. The 2023 ICC Womens T20 World Cup has captured the public’s interest in womens cricket and has raised the bar of professionalism in womens cricket. For these reasons, it is important for SACA to be ahead of the curve in the player development landscape” said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO

Warriors allrounder Beyers Swanepoel took home the coveted title of SACA MVP at CSA Awards ceremony on Friday evening.   

Swanepoel enjoyed a fantastic season across all formats and particularly in red-ball cricket. He finished the 2022/23 season at the top of the SACA MVP overall rankings as well as the 4-Day series.  

The SACA MVP ranking is South Africa’s only statistical ranking formula that measures the success and on-field performances of players at every match. Points are awarded based on each discipline of the game and are weighted based on the impact of their performance in the match. The formula was also used in the inaugural 2023 Betway SA20 to determine the Betway Player of the Tournament.

Swanepoel proved his abilities with the bat and ball in the 4-Day series, picking up 33 wickets including two fifers and a ten-fer, and scoring 235 runs. He crept up the rankings putting in strong performances in each match, taking big-ticket wickets and scoring runs on a regular basis to finish top of the table ahead of Dolphins allrounders Jon Jon Smuts and Prenelan Subrayen in the final match of the series.  

“I am really happy with my performances this season and it is great to take home the title of SACA MVP because there have been some really big names to have won this title. To be listed among them is something special,” commented Swanepoel.

In the shortest format of the game, Titans youngster Dewald Brevis blasted onto the scene in terrific fashion to finish top of the T20 MVP rankings, followed by Grant Roelofsen in second and Aaron Phangiso in third. Brevis dominated in the T20 Challenge as he was the leading run-scorer of the tournament. His personal best score of 162, two catches and a wicket quickly propelled him to the top spot of the rankings early on in the competition. Brevis showcased some amazing performances in the 20-over game where he hit 24 sixes in nine matches.

Ryan Rickelton takes the title in the 1-Day Cup MVP rankings, ahead of Jordan Herman and Jon Jon Smuts. The fight for the number one position came down to the wire with only 0,678 points separating the top two positions. As the leading run-scorer of the competition, it was Rickelton’s man-of-the-match performances against Boland, Titans and North West that landed him at the top of the table and earned him a call-up to the Proteas ODI squad. In addition, his performance did not go unseen by his peers as he picked up the Domestic Players Player of the Year award at the CSA Awards evening.

“Despite a number of scheduling challenges this year, it has been a great season all around and we have seen some superb performances by players. The SACA MVP is our prized player property that gives a statistical and objective view of who the top players in the country are. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to more action in the coming season” said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO.

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) held a successful AGM on 30 November 2022. Following the online AGM of 2021, players from around the country attended the AGM in person at the Radisson Red hotel in Cape Town.

Khaya Zondo was re-elected to the SACA Executive Committee (Exco), and was again nominated by the Exco, to serve a further two years as President. Tumi Sekhukhune was elected as the Proteas Women representative. They join Farhaan Behardien, Grant Thomson, and Dom Hendricks on the Exco, with Temba Bavuma being a co-opted Proteas Men member.

SACA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Breetzke presented a report on the activities of SACA during 2022. Highlights included the progress made on the Transformation and Diversity initiatives, the finalisation of MOU22, and the new SA20 League. SACA awarded over 70 bursaries in the current financial year and the dual career initiatives for players are being further enhanced with new learning options for players in 2023. SACA continues to be at the forefront of research into cricket, being part of international research into the challenges facing women in sport.

In commenting on the discussions at the AGM, Breetzke stated; “2022 has been a year of consolidation in cricket following four years of crisis upon crisis. However, whilst we have entered a period of relative stability, there are major challenges facing cricket in South Africa and the world. Cricket South Africa faces significant financial challenges over the next year, and all stakeholders are going to have to work together to ensure that cricket is able to survive, and ultimately thrive. There is no place for political decision-making in such a scenario.

“Whilst the new SA20 League will add new revenue into cricket in South Africa, as well as playing opportunities for domestic players, members noted their concern at the health of domestic cricket in the country. To this end, a resolution was passed, charging the Exco with the task of reviewing the current state of domestic cricket. This review will look into a wide range of issues from training facilities, support structures, transport, accommodation, wickets, scheduling, playing standards, playing opportunity, umpiring and the like. The objective is for players to constructively engage on ensuring the domestic game improves and flourishes” concluded Breetzke.

Breetzke went on to thank the SACA Executive Committee, and Khaya Zondo in particular, for the ongoing commitment to SACA during 2022. SACA is the players’ and the work of the Exco in providing direction to SACA is critical.

“Over the past year, SACA has again provided extensive support to all players. The well-being of players is at the core of the SACA service, and we are proud that year on year we are able to extend and improve these services – the SACA team continues to do excellent work” commented SACA President Khaya Zondo.
Ends.

The Proteas T20 Squad in India, along with the contracted Proteas players, today pledged R100 000 to assist Mondli Khumalo in his recovery from the serious injuries he sustained in an assault last week.

Temba Bavuma, Proteas T20 captain commented from India; “We are all part of the cricket family, and we must come together to support Mondli as he recovers from his horrific injuries.  We are grateful for the excellent care he is receiving in England, and we are hopeful for a full recovery and return to cricket”.

Dean Elgar, Proteas Test captain added; “As a group of players we wanted to make a contribution to his rehabilitation, and he will remain in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  The support Mondli is receiving from the cricket community in South Africa and the United Kingdom, is evidence of the power of our game.”

“SACA is in direct contact with Mondli’s agent, Rob Humphries, who has been doing wonderful work in supporting Mondli and his family.  We are in discussions with Rob as how best to utilize these funds, as well as additional funds that will be forthcoming from the SACA Benevolent Fund.  We thank CSA and KZN Cricket Inland for their work in supporting Mondli at this time.  The cricket community displayed incredible support for Solo Nqweni when he faced the challenge of overcoming the Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2020, and we are seeing the same support for Mondli – it is heart-warming” concluded SACA CEO Andrew Breetzke.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed that Zubayr Hamza will serve a suspension of nine months, commencing on the 22 March 2022, following his positive test for the prohibited substance Furosemide.

Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO, commented; “from the outset, Zubayr co-operated with the ICC on providing full disclosure of medications that he had been taking, and the sequence of events leading up to the positive test.  Through this process, we were able to determine how Furosemide came to be in his sample.

The ICC considered and accepted his submission, and we are pleased that Zubayr will be back playing cricket at the end of this year.  SACA will continue to support Zubayr during the period of his suspension”.

Zubayr noted his relief that the matter had been concluded; “I wish to thank the ICC for the professional manner in which they managed this process.  I have never intentionally taken a prohibited substance and I am relieved that the ICC determination confirms this fact.  The past few months have been difficult for me on a personal and professional level, and I have learnt lessons that I will share with my fellow players.

I would like to thank Cricket South Africa and Western Province for their support during this time.  I would also like to thank my attorney, Barend Kellerman, for his expertise in navigating this process, and SACA for their comprehensive support during what has been a difficult time for me.”

Sisanda Magala has been crowned this season’s SACA Overall and 1Day Cup MVP (Most Valuable Player) following the conclusion of the 1Day Cup final on Wednesday. 

Magala has consistently produced match-winning performances this season, but it was his dominance in the CSA 1Day Cup that propelled him to the top spot in both the Overall and the 1 Day Cup rankings.

“It is a great feeling to be named the SACA MVP for the season. I have put a lot of work into my game this season. It has not been easy for me but to get the recognition as the MVP for the season means I am doing something right” said Magala

The SACA MVP is the only statistical ranking algorithm in South Africa that measures player performances in each match to determine who the most valuable player is in domestic cricket.

Players earn points at the end of each match for batting, bowling, fielding, captaining and more importantly, winning. These points are weighted against the impact and effect they have in the match. Bonus points are awarded for outstanding performances in each of the disciplines.   

In the 4 Day Series, Simon Harmer marked his return to local domestic cricket by taking home the red-ball MVP.  A number of superb performances with the ball eventually earned him a call up to the national team. As the leading wicket-taker, he managed to hold off Western Province left-arm spinner, Kyle Simmonds, who was hot on his heels from the second last round of the competition.  

Boland Rocks captain, Pieter Malan topped the rankings in the shortest format. Malan was in top form throughout the competition, earning a total of 123.981 points. It was his performance in the final that secured him as the competition MVP, only 25,935 points ahead of Warriors youngster, Tristan Stubbs finished in second-place position in the rankings.

“The rankings provide players, fans and stakeholders with an objective and holistic insight into how a player is performing in each game of the season as it takes into consideration the impact the player has in each game,” said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO.

“The SACA MVP is a player property we have been administering for players for over ten years and each year the performances keep improving. I would like to congratulate Sisanda, Simon and Pieter on winning their respective titles. They are a testament to the quality of cricket we have at domestic level.” concluded Breetzke.
Ends.

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) held a successful AGM on 8 December 2021 which was attended online by members and player representatives from around the country.

Members in attendance elected their Players’ Executive who will serve and represent them on SACA Executive Committee (Exco) for the next two years.

Dominic Hendricks was newly elected along with Farhaan Behardien, Grant Thomson who were re-elected. They are joined by Khaya Zondo, who is in his second year as president, Lizelle Lee and Temba Bavuma who will serve as co-opted Exco members.

In commenting on the discussions at the AGM, SACA CEO, Andrew Breetzke stated; “cricket is in a healthier position than it was 12 months ago, especially from a CSA governance perspective. However, 2021 has still been a very difficult year and cricket in South Africa faces significant financial challenges over the next few years. To this end, we are grateful that the Indian team will be proceeding with the tour this summer.

“Covid and the ‘bubble life’ have continued to place all players under immense pressure and SACA has provided psychological support to players and their families during this period. The sustainability of these bubbles from a human perspective remains a concern for all involved in the game” added Breetzke

Breetzke also thanked the SACA Executive Committee, and Khaya Zondo in particular, for their ongoing commitment to SACA during 2021. Their support and direction on important matters such as the domestic restructure, SJN and Covid was critical in ensuring the player voice is heard.

“On behalf of the player group, I would like to thank out-going Exco Member Mignon du Preez for her service and commitment to the player cause. As the first female SACA Executive Committee member, she has led the way for women within our game.”


“As the representative of the player group, we will continue to fight for the rights of players and to confront any challenges in the best interests of the players, and the game. SACA is an association by players and for players and our strength lies in our unity” concluded SACA President Khaya Zondo.

The start of the 2021/22 South African domestic cricket season will also usher in a new season of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) rankings with a full round of fixtures in the four-day competition starting on Friday.

Now in its 11th season, the SACA MVP is a statistical ranking algorithm that is recognised by players as a measure of consistency across the division 1 domestic competitions throughout the season.

The MVP formula considers the number of runs scored for the team, taking top order or match-winning wickets and catches in the field are all weighted against the intensity of the match and the individual’s contribution to the team.

Individual player points are tallied up and at the end of the season, four domestic MVP titles will be awarded. Players contest the award for Overall MVP, 4-Day competition MVP, Momentum One-Day Cup (MODC) MVP and the Mzansi Super League MVP.

Last season, Proteas and Dolphins spinner Keshav Maharaj took home the Overall and the 4-Day MVP titles after a successful season but was pipped to the T20 MVP top spot by Proteas teammate Reeza Hendricks.

A restructured domestic set-up and the added challenge of going in and out of bio-bubbles will make for an intriguing and unpredictable MVP tussle as competition increases with more teams competing.

The one-day competition will have a new MVP this season as Dolphins all-rounder, Robbie Frylinck took the honours last season, capping off his career on a high. Frylinck’s 72.626 points was enough to edge out Jon Jon Smuts (Warriors) 69.811 points and Janneman Malan (Cape Cobras) on 63.794 points.

“Every season brings with it a renewed excitement as we watch the country’s best first-class cricketers strive to make their mark in all three formats of the game,” said Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO.  This year promises to be one of the most keenly contested SACA MVP series’ we’ve ever had and we wish all the players the best in the race to the top of the MVP 2021/22 title.”

SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION

Protect and Promote the Interests of South African Professional Cricketers, and the Game.

SUBSCRIBE

Receive updates on events and meetings from the SACA media team.