5 South African domestic and franchise stars who have been constantly overlooked for selection

South Africa has always been the home to some of the greatest bowlers, batters and all-rounders to have ever emerged into the international cricketing circuit, over the last three decades or more. The country is continuing to produce many such wonderful and promising talents within its borders courtesy the Ram Slam and the strong domestic first class structure prevalent there. However. as things stand, the racial policies and domestic lobbying are just some of the factrors constantly proving detrimental to the rise of many domestic stars in the country, whose performances over the last three years or so make them most deserving to be a part of the national set-up.Here is a list of some of the finest players who lost their chances and are still awaiting their moments:

#1 Khaya Zondo

A versatile cricketer who started his career as a wicket-keeper is now an integral part of Sunfoil Dolphins in the Ram Slam competition. Zondo, though only 25, has emerged to be a fine all-rounder serving the role of a keeper at a part-time level. Having played U-19 cricket for Kwa-Zulu Natal, he became the top scorer for his franchise in 2011/12 when he scored 259 in 11 outings for Impi, before securing a permanent spot in the Dolphin set-up.

In 2013/14, he became the second highest run-scorer for the Dolphins in his second season in first-class arena, with an impressive average of nearly forty. He was a central figure in the Dolphins’ triumph in the domestic T-20 competition in 2013, which confirmed Dolphins their place in the Champions League T-20 in India.

Zondo was also a part of the South-African A team that toured India in July/August this year and scored at an average of thirty-eight. 

However, for Zondo, unfair selection strategies and constant preference for white players like Dane Villas and Stiaan Van Zyl, he hardly got a chance to play in the national team. He was unjustly ruled out of the test squad when the West Indies toured South Africa as Stiaan Van Zyl got his cap. Though this is not the first instance where a player has been mistreated, Zondo would have to fight his skin out to persuade the biased selectors to put him ahead of some of his counterparts.