LIAM DEL CARME | The Africa T20 Cup has come and gone, and all it needed was a little exposure

The almost forgotten and out of sight Africa T20 Cup climaxed in Benoni on Thursday.

Thank heavens SuperSport beamed it to the world otherwise it may have remained hidden behind the mine dumps in the area.

The tournament was originally scheduled for September 2019 but was then moved to March 2020 in Nairobi. However, the onset of the pandemic put paid to those plans and the event was again moved, this time to the dusty industrial wastelands of Benoni.

Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon and Tanzania assembled for a tournament open to associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while two qualifiers were due to emerge form the northwest region in the shape of Ghana and Nigeria. The latter, however, ran into visa problems and could not make it to the East Rand.

Tanzania, who weren’t down to participate, grabbed the opportunity. In fact, they went unbeaten in their three matches, including victory over higher ranked Kenya to reach the final against Uganda.

That they did so with very little game time or preparation is testament to their players’ ability to hit the deck running at Willowmoore Park.

When I caught up with officials from some of the teams earlier this week a familiar, in fact much worn complaint re-emerged — the lack of exposure.

Though there is a shortfall of resources in their respective countries, they say their teams simply don’t play enough international cricket to help close the gap on the teams who dine at the sport’s top table.

Even in their kingdom some are more equal than others. Teams like Kenya and Uganda see a lot more action, but others like Cameroon and Tanzania rank among the lesser spotted.

At the game’s apex cricket’s Future Tours Programme has become one of the game’s more divisive topics.

The spirit of ubuntu may have coursed through the sport in the past but the general lament now is everyone has to fend for themselves.

Those who are able to generate the most income tend to tailor the calendar around their narrow needs.

It has meant the game’s lofty private club has become even more exclusive, with the likes of SA, Pakistan and to an extent even New Zealand looking from the outside in.

The teams that assembled in Benoni are of course far removed from those deliberations.

It perhaps tells you all you need to know about the game on the continent when you consider that only three teams from Africa rank higher on the ICC's T20 list than Crown dependants Jersey.

Six teams from Africa rank in the top 40 but so do fellow Crown dependants Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

The participants at the Africa T20 Cup don’t lay their plight exclusively at the door of the ICC as they believe the continent can have a bigger say in what happens in its backyard.

What that will require is greater co-operation and collaboration with SA, the sport’s pre-eminent force on the continent.

The spirit of ubuntu may have coursed through the sport in the past but the general lament now is everyone has to fend for themselves.

It stands in stark contrast to the more active role India have played in their region. They are the undoubted power brokers in Asia, not just from a playing perspective but with their considerable financial muscle. CSA does not have that pull what it comes to adding 0s to the balance sheet.

Still, India are far more on the front foot, if not uplifting their neighbourhood, then setting the agenda.

Of course their actions aren’t necessarily driven by altruism. India play the political game better than most and they understand a happy neighbourhood increases the probability of a united front when crucial votes have to be cast in the boardroom.

Because of internal strife, cricket in SA has become more insular. When you are at odds with yourself the broader picture becomes blurred.

Apart from being a celebration of cricket for the eight competing nations, the Africa T20 should serve as a reminder of the great untapped wealth there remains on the continent.

Growing the game “elsewhere” however, will always be superseded by the rapacious slog for profits closer to home.