Bavuma offers good friend Rabada support after drugs ordeal

Shukri Conrad’s first thought upon hearing about Kagiso Rabada’s positive drugs test was: “what the hell have you done?”

The next was: “What kind of support do you need from me?” 

“It’s like one of your kids does something stupid and initially all you want to do is give them a smack. But he was nothing but honest and open about it. It’s a very bad mistake, but one he has been upfront about and he has gone through a process and for all of us who know him, it’s about what support we can offer,” said the Proteas head coach. 

Rabada tested positive for a recreational drug, reportedly cocaine, during the SA20 in January and served a one-month ban that started on April 1. He has since returned to his IPL side, the Gujarat Titans, and Tuesday was named in the Proteas squad for next month’s World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s starting on June 11. 

Conrad said he wants Rabada to address his teammates and the media and confront the issue head on, before the final. “He has to take ownership of this.”

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, who is close friends with Rabada, agreed. “There must be an acceptance of what happened and the role he played in that. And then ask yourself the question — why did you find yourself in that situation? Is there an underlying mental issue? And then make sure you deal with that,” said Bavuma.

Bavuma likened Rabada’s positive drugs test to the situation he found himself in during Australia’s tour to South Africa in 2018, when his shoulder brush with then Australian captain Steve Smith during the second Test in Gqeberha, added fuel to what was an already feisty series and led to him initially being banned from the third Test. 

Even before a subsequent hearing cleared him, Rabada picked up 11/150 in the second Test, earning the player of the match prize. “We saw how that series ended and how he performed,” said Bavuma.

“The bigger concern is more from a personal point of view. If there is an issue, he must get the support he needs, if not, if it was him being reckless, he must deal with it — the sledging, the media — and he must make sure he comes out better from that situation.”

In the short term, with the WTC final on the horizon, Rabada, South Africa's most high profile cricketer, can expect greater scrutiny from the international media and the Australian players, who have never been shy about lobbing psychological grenades at the opposition. 

Already their former captain Tim Paine has questioned the credibility of the testing process, saying the secrecy around the issue stank. Asked his opinion on Paine's remarks, Conrad fired back: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Our friendship comes first. The biggest thing is the human and supporting him and making sure he learns from that situation.

—  Proteas captain, Temba Bavuma

“I’m just thankful that the process that was followed was in line with world standards. It's not for me or anyone else to question whether the process was legitimate — it was.”

Paine stepped down as Australian captain in 2021 after sending explicit messages and pictures of his genitals to a female colleague.

Bavuma said elite athletes endure extreme strain due to the pressure of international sport. “It can be mentally cruel. I’m not here to make excuses for (Rabada) or to pre-empt his reasons for what he did. If it's a case of understanding the ways of dealing with the pressures, or escaping from constantly being under the microscope, then do that. Accept and understand what’s happened, how it's affected you and if there are any underlying things, then deal with that and come out better for it.” 

Bavuma said he would offer Rabada all the support he can. The two played together at the Gauteng Lions before both emerged on the international stage.

“Our friendship comes first. The biggest thing is the human and supporting him and making sure he learns from that situation. A lot of people will point fingers at him, a lot of people with their own skeletons in the closet. I’m not going to be one of those people,” said Bavuma.

“You have to give the guy support. The fact that we’ve played international cricket together, he came into the Lions after I’d been there a few years, you understand that there is a human being behind the player and maybe that whole fallacy ... we are role models, but we have our own flaws.”

“Let's not be quick to celebrate when we all have our flaws. But at the same time there is that social responsibility from our side to ensure or guard that we are putting our best foot forward. Whether it is possible or not, I’m not too sure. We are all human at the end of the day.”

Director of national teams Enoch Nkwe said Cricket South Africa (CSA) needed to ensure that in conjunction with the South African Cricketers' Association and players' agents, structures were put in place to provide support for players.

“It was out of competition — it is a one-off,” Nkwe said of the Rabada situation. “We want to find out if this is something we need to keep a close eye on or whether it will impact the system. It could happen to a 19-year old, for us the priority is that KG is good, first as a person and then he is ready to compete.”

Nkwe said CSA also wants to assist Rabada in the future with an education programme for youngsters. “I know he wants to drive something like that moving forward, in all sports not just cricket, and turn this around and make it a positive message.”