Ex-star’s Major Complaint Against South Africa Cricket Board: “No Equal Opportunities”

Brian McMillan, an accomplished international cricket player, found he was a natural for teaching science and Afrikaans in the classroom. Upon retiring from cricket, McMillan chose to join his family company rather than return to the game due to his disillusionment with the “politics” in South African cricket administration. He saw success there as well, as the best all-round player of his day developed into a model of flexibility outside of cricket.

Meanwhile, there was the little issue of finishing an MBA program and finding employment with Canon and other organizations.

McMillan has been an integral member of the South African cricket squad for the past seven years since the country’s comeback to international cricket. He is a very handy batsman, a nasty third seamer who is quicker than expected, and a fielder whose bucket-like hands pouched anything that came his way in the slip cordon.

Before South African cricket was rocked by the Jacques Kallis phenomenon, he was the team’s unifying force.

McMillan has, however, avoided the field and the South African cricket establishment throughout the years, focusing instead on his family company and watching cricket news on television.

Luckily, I work for my family’s firm, which is involved in printing, communications, banking, and manufacturing equipment. Sitting in his expansive office in the Aztec Park neighborhood, the 60-year-old told PTI in an exclusive interview that “I had worked for companies like Canon when I was playing.”

“I did my MBA after cricket and before that taught Afrikaans and science in school to supplement my income while I was playing.” He would have been in high demand in the IPL due to his all-around abilities, but he merely stated, “It is what it is.” “Before me Clive Rice, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Mike Proctor could have made money,” he stated.

However, why doesn’t he join CSA or go to the ground? I have my opinions about it, so I don’t go to the ground because I find it to be too political. I have opinions on it and I truly like the game,” McMillan remarked.

“I watch the IPL quite attentively, and a lot of young people are making waves. Thankfully, India has a very strong team, therefore it was shocking that they did not win the World Cup, the speaker stated.

Even though McMillan held opposing views to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, he was not popular for them.

“I most definitely don’t trust their selecting procedures. I don’t think in BLM. It is a Marxist concept. “I think that the way people understood “all lives matter” in this country was incorrect; they were unaware of the true meaning of BLM,” he declared.

“You are free to hold your own opinions; it really doesn’t matter. However, I don’t support it since, if BLM is included in the “All Lives Matter” category, then I am alright regardless of my color, ethnicity, or creed.

He was blunt in his assessment: “It’s a case of equal opportunities, so I don’t support SA cricket as I don’t believe there’s equal opportunities.”

Does he believe Temba Bavuma isn’t the best option to lead South Africa as captain? “You want me to say something that isn’t fair. I would answer negatively if you were to claim that everyone is chosen based just on merit.

“Temba has had a successful career, and the CSA has moved him around and dealt with a few ailments. You have to look at all sides in the globe and see how they performed to determine whether he is talented enough to play for the team,” he continued.

The fact that players have left international cricket over time to become pros and play county or T20 league cricket irritates McMillan.

“I think it’s absurd that some people have to travel borders in order to make a living; I don’t think there should be equal possibilities, and I would strongly disagree with that. Thus, that’s the reason I stay away from South African cricket,” he said with a hint of annoyance.

‘Muscles Raju’ and the Hero Cup in my memory

McMillan still cherishes the friendships he made and the numerous special on-field encounters he had with India throughout his playing career.

There are two games that spectators will never forget.

Twice, in the Hero Cup semifinal of 1993, Sachin Tendulkar denied him the opportunity to score the winning runs. The second incident is better famous for the Indian great’s backpedaling of Adam Bacher, who took a stunning one-handed catch at Newlands, after he had scored an incredible 169.

“Young conductor… got along great with him and recalled the Adam Bacher catch at the boundary; it was a flat wicket where we also scored some runs “.

He joked over the Hero Cup game.

“He needed four off the final ball, and he took a single off the fifth.” Only one of the items. I have many friends and had a great time in India.” One photo from the 1990s, which would have gone viral today, showed McMillan, who was six feet four inches tall, embracing a wiry Venkatapathy Raju, who was just five and a half feet tall.

‘Muscles’ was the moniker given to Raju by McMillan.

Muscles Raju is a great cricket player and a great friend of mine. Salil Ankola and WV Raman, I believe, appeared in the same series (1996).

“We did quite well against India and got to know them quite well, 30 years later we still keep in touch and Muscles was a wonderful fellow.”

India and Virat Kohli value Test cricket.

A second-string Test side led by an unproven captain and seven uncapped players will be traveling to New Zealand for the CSA series.

If you had been a cricket player, would you have skipped tests instead? “I hope modern players are making enough money otherwise it’s very difficult to do business,” McMillan stated.

“Players find it quite difficult. One of our men, Heinrich Klaasen, has retired and will undoubtedly play in the T20 league. I have certain opinions on how nations should essentially manage their player populations. People are known for their essence.

It’s a global belief that one must prioritize their nation, and India has been doing a very good job of it, in my opinion. It’s fantastic that you can see Kohli and the guys play Test cricket.

They don’t set out tests to participate in BBL. Test cricket will have challenges, but I think it will always be the best game, “he said.

“Hansiegate” was a cruel smack in the face.

People learn to move on and forgive others when they die. The same thing was done by McMillan with the late Hansie Cronje, the former captain of the Proteas, whose admission of game-fixing shocked the cricket world.

“Bottomline, as you are all aware, we were approached several times and declined those ridiculous offers. He wasn’t holding back when he said, “It was like a slap in the face when it came out that Hansie was involved in It.”

The key is that it did happen and we survive and learn, even though he (Cronje) was making a lot of money behind our backs. That’s just the way things are. Individuals who are profiting off the sidelines are free to do as they like if they believe wealth comes before morality.” But all was forgiven once Cronje passed away.

“Everyone must make judgments and take responsibility for their actions, as I have stated. I don’t resent him for that since he was an amazing leader and cricket player.

“I would still talk to him if he were still living today. There are no resentments “He grinned.