Smith voices concern about player exodus

Graeme Smith has voiced concerns about the exodus of leading players from South African cricket. Several cricketers including Jacques Rudolph and Vaughn van Jaarsveld have signed Kolpak contracts while others such as Andrew Hall have recently quit international cricket.

"The main concern is that players who can still mean a lot to the national team are turning their back on South African cricket," Smith told news24.com, a South African news website. "Those are the ones we have to keep and whom the administrators should think about.

"Guys of 21 and 22 years are leaving because they just do not have the patience to play their way into the national team," Smith said. "Some players who are near the end of their career are also taking that route.

"It is hard to stop them because the money they will earn in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) is a major consideration. But it does prove that there are other problems in our cricket that have to be solved. The administrators have a major task and I just hope they take it seriously."

Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje have signed with the ICL while Hall is almost certain to join once his contract with Cricket South Africa comes to an end in April next year.

Though Jacques Kallis, who resigned from the vice-captaincy after being dropped for the ICC World Twenty20, is back in the side for the Pakistan tour, his replacement as vice-captain has not been announced. "I wish I knew. I'll let you know when I find out," said Smith. "But it seems that sort of information is not meant for me."

The South African team is currently in Pakistan on a two-Test and five-ODI tour.