South Africa’s Black Prince!

By John Cheeran
It should not come as a surprise to you that different strands make up a nation’s life.
To recognize those varied strands is a test of character for any nation.
India has lived up to its social challenges in play as well as at work. Despite the casteist inclinations of a largely Hindu dominated society, other sections have broken the barriers to come up to breathe freely and fearlessly.
Indian cricket team has had Muslims as captains. India has had Muslims and Dalits as Presidents and other minorities as Prime Ministers. India's current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hails from a minority group.
Now the once White supremacist nation South Africa has gone for a Black as its cricket captain. Ashwell Prince's appointment as captain, though is a stop-gap arrangement, is a significant step in that country's cricket politics. The new skipper himself has acknowledged that "unforeseen circumstances" -Graeme Smith's injury – have led to his new post. Prince will be leading a South African team without its three key performers.
Jacques Kallis too will be missing along with Smith from the tour to Sri Lankaand Shaun Pollock will miss the first Test.
Circumstances have conspired so that South African selectors were forced to choose Prince as their captain. Now its is up to the Black Prince to live up to the challenge of being the first Black to lead the rainbow nation.