Imran Tahir is white apparently
 

Imran Tahir, the Pakistani legspinner who has impressed in FC cricket in South Africa and England is apparently white.

Tahir not transformation black

by Christo Buchner | 29 September 2008 (23:43)

Imran Tahir, the Pakistani bowler now available as a local player, is being classified as a "white player" for the Titans, as he may also be for South Africa later.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has made it clear to the Titans that Tahir is not regarded as a "player of colour."

Titans CEO Elise Lombard says the explanation is that Tahir is a foreigner and did not come through the development channels in South African cricket.

He was, therefore, not part of the transformation process. For this reason the Titans still have to field four black players, even if Tahir is selected.

CSA said the same principle would apply if Tahir were to be picked for South Africa.

On Monday, the day he returned from England, Tahir was included in the Titans' 13-man squad for the first SuperSport match against the Dolphins starting at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

Last season's captain, Martin van Jaarsveld, arrives in the country on Tuesday. Van Jaarsveld is a strong candidate for being named player of the English season.

The former Lions opening bowler, Blake Snijman, will be making his debut for the Titans. Another newcomer is fast bowler Basheer Walters.

Tahir and lefthand spinner Paul Harris are both in the squad and are both likely to play.

“We are taking 13 players to Durban to provide for all possibilities,” said the captain, Pierre Joubert. “We don't know what to expect and that is why we are making provision for any eventuality.”

Allrounder Albie Morkel was not considered, due to his shoulder injury.

The seamer Brendon Reddy will also be out of action for a considerable length of time after he was recently involved in a motor car accident.


http://www.supersport.co.za/cricket/...lack&id=272090

Does South Africa's race obsession know no bounds?

:laugh:

You can understand where CSA is coming from because Tahir despite the colour of his skin has nothing to do with the processes of transformation. Biggest blow this will be is to Paul Harris, who is now likely to be bench warming to Tahir for the Titans.

If one can see the reason for targets/quotas then one can see the logic for this.

It is pretty awkward and messed up though.

Also especially as Im sure his ethnicity played no small role in Titans wanting him. Ie. he is a good player that could make it on merit but Im sure the Titans will have planned that his inclusion would mean they could drop the weakest quota player.

Indeed. The clubs comments earlier this week when Tahir was registered was that he was not only now a South African but also a player of colour.

He hasn't been "previously disadvantaged" so yeah he isn't part of the transformation process.. A similar thing has been happening amongst the tiny chinese community in South Africa who are petitioning to be considered as black IIRC..

But the thing is that wealthy Kenyans, Zimbabweans etc (I know as I know some) are treated as previously disadvantaged despite being rich and not ever living under apartheid.

What this actually is is probably the first of the early battles to get the long standing desire of quotas for only Black Africans.

Regarding Asians in SA. The Japanese were given honorary white status during apartheid.

And as you suggest for the Chinese currently. The carrot of targets/quotas, BEE and being classed as previously disadvanaged is massive

"So the Chinese Association of South Africa (Casa) took the matter to court, and the Pretoria High Court declared that Chinese were “black”."

Looking forward to him playing for the Proteas. If he can take wickets on the SA pitches, I see him doing well at the highest level. It's about time SA had a quality legspinner.

Agree that the Tahir thing is absurd.

As for van Jaarsveld - player of the season? He finished 19th in the averages and his county got relegated.

If Tahir truly will play for SA, i'd be beyond excited about their prospects of being the world's number 1 team.

I think there's about as much doubt about him playing for SA as there is about Pietersen playing for England TBH.

Word out, especially given their best leg-spinner since the Great Aubrey Faulkner in Denys Hobson, career was cut short due to apartheid.

Its like Bizzaro world. Pakistani players are classed as white and Chinese players as black :laugh:

Just goes to show how silly defining multitudes of races as simple "black" or "white" is really.

And TBF, no-one really does that - they're shorthands only. And shorthands it'd be so much better (and less confusing) if people didn't use.

Bureaucrats are capable of anything, except getting into heaven.