SA20-Test scheduling was very unacceptable and remains unacceptable to date: Rabada

The World Test Championship series between New Zealand and South Africa clashed with the second edition of the SA20 competition, which led to all the first-choice players giving the series a miss. Given the financial constraints that Cricket South Africa have found themselves in, prioritizing the interests of the T20 competition was a no-brainer, and hence, they had to send a team led by Neil Brand - who himself made his Test debut in his first game as skipper. 

However, Kagiso Rabada, who represented MI Cape Town in the SA20, stated that the clash was unacceptable for him as a lover of Test cricket. "It was very very unacceptable and remains unacceptable to date. It was obviously a planning issue. It is unacceptable, that is all I would say about that," Rabada told PTI.

"If I can go back on that point it is not fair to go at the players. It is not fair to say that players are being picked and they got free Test caps. I don't think it is fair to put that criticism on the players. They simply got asked to go there, and at the end of the day, they are not going to say no.

"That is a planning issue and it has got to do with what is happening at the higher level; what happened with Cricket South Africa. It was basically a double book, that was what it was." The presence of star South Africa players was important for the success of the young SA20 league and as a result, Test cricket became the casualty.

"End of the day, we didn't really get a choice to even go there because of the importance of the SA20. It is like shooting yourself in the foot. Cricket comes from Test cricket and Test from my perspective is the best format. I would imagine all great players who play all formats would say Test cricket is their favourite format. It is the same for me as well."

Outside of India, Australia and England, most teams play two-match Test series currently. The last two times India toured South Africa, it has been relegated to a two-match series. Rabada lamented that fact while adding that a plan has to be made for smaller teams to keep playing Test cricket regularly.

"When it comes to countries excluding India, England, and Australia, it is quite unfortunate. The way that I see it, to become a powerful cricket nation without the advantage of currency and advantage of TV rights, it is about playing good cricket,” Rabada said.

"The better you play, the more teams want to play with you. It is very hard to argue against why those nations would want to play with each other because at the end of the day, it is about sustaining the business of cricket which is to make revenue and that is how the game stays alive.

"How do you incorporate other nations playing the same amount of Test cricket...I am not sure. If you are looking at prolonging Test cricket, if you want kids to keep playing Test cricket globally, then a plan has to be made," the 28-year-old fast bowler added.