He believes that, in three or four years time, the matter of a player's skin colour will not be an issue.

South Africa's rugby and cricket officials have been under fire from some politicians because of perceived racial selection policies.

South African Sports Minister Steve Tshwete has threatened legislation compelling selectors to pick racially mixed teams regardless of form.

But Dr Bacher said in Christchurch yesterday that this was just talk to the constituents with an election just around the corner. He did not believe there would be any such legislation.

Blacks 'impatient'

``There is, amongst the black constituency ... call it impatience at the emergence of black cricketers in the national team,'' said Dr Bacher.

The whole matter was a ``fine balancing act'' for cricket authorities.

``We have got to take cognisance of the broad environment, but we can't compromise standards because that would be disastrous, for obvious reasons.''

The South African cricket board had ruled that, from next season, all its provincial teams must be teams of colour.

``We believe by doing that, and by giving more opportunity to more players of colour at provincial level, they will come through, realise their potential, so that within a few years there will be more players of colour who could be seriously considered for that (the national) team.''

It was also policy that the national team should be a ``team of colour'', but Dr Bacher made it clear the board was not advocating a set quota of non-white players in the team.

Dr Bacher said there was a significant representation of black players in youth teams, but not to the same degree in the provincial sides.

This meant that the national selectors could realistically consider only three or four non-whites for the national side.

``I am very confident in two or three years time, we won't ever talk of players of colour ... or handle these types of questions.''