CAPE TOWN. – South Western Districts (SWD) Cricket formalized and finalized its shareholder status as part of Western Cape Cricket at a historical meeting of the three regional affiliates in Oudtshoorn during the final weekend of August.
The decision to delink from Cricket Eastern Cape and the Warriors franchise was taken earlier in 2015. Western Cape Cricket agreed in March to the inclusion of SWD as part of the Western Cape Cricket structure.
Since the announcement to form part of Western Cape, the affiliates, Boland, Western Province and SWD, formulated various structural and operational plans to enhance the process.
Nabeal Dien, chief executive of Western Cape Cricket, hailed the meeting as ground-breaking. “An initiative which gathered momentum earlier in the year, culminated in a historic weekend in every respect of the word. It is a relationship that can only grow from strength to strength for both players and administrators,” he said.
At the meeting that was held on August, 28th 2015 the affiliates outlined their operational plans and an action plan to coordinate franchise-activities and –events.
The fundamental principle for these engagements is in accordance with the SASCOC-requirement for alignment in the geopolitical provinces.
A triangular tournament was held in Oudtshoorn the past weekend to select a Western Cape Franchise Academy team. This team will participate in the Cricket South Africa Franchise Academy tournament hosted by SWD Cricket in Oudtshoorn from 15 to 19 September.
Mr Rudy Claassen, President of SWD Cricket, described the progress that was made in in the recent year as significant and thanked the main shareholders, Western Province and Boland, for their positive leadership and approach in addressing this issue. “This matter was high on our priority list and besides numerous plans that were already implemented we are looking forward to the visit of the Cape Cobra’s to Oudtshoorn on 29 & 30 September when they take on the Warriors at the REC Ground”, he said.
