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Cape Town - South African cricket legend Graeme Pollock insists he is not racist and has again reiterated that his comments regarding transformation were misunderstood.
Pollock was criticised heavily on social media after he was quoted as saying that, as long as there was political interference in the national cricket side and they were not putting their best XI players on the field, South Africa would never be the best team in the world.
Pollock initially responded via his spokesperson Basil O'Hagan, apologising for the way in which the comments were interpreted.
"Graeme extends his sincerest apologies to CSA Board and the South African cricketing public for the manner in which his comments at a recent function in London were totally misconstrued,” O’Hagan said in July.
"Graeme fully supports the endeavours of the transformation process as further evidenced in the radio interview he had on July 6 with Jonathan Agnew of BBC's TMS broadcast."
Pollock has himself now cleared the air via a column for SA Cricketmag.
“I was disappointed to hear about the allegations made against me during the England Test series. I supposedly made some remarks that were detrimental to CSA, speaking out against transformation and the way the Proteas side has been picked,” Pollock wrote.
Pollock said his only interaction with the media was with Agnew and there was nothing abusive or critical in the interview.
“I’m concerned about how those comments surfaced, because it led to me being accused of being racist. I know transformation needs to happen, I love South African cricket and I just want to see it survive and flourish.
“I was concerned and depressed about what happened, because I’m not a racist and I’ve been completely misconstrued. I didn’t even get any calls from anybody to confirm those comments. If I’m ever critical, it’s because I’m a South African cricket fanatic and I want to see it survive.”
The 73-year-old Pollock played only 23 Tests for South Africa after the country was banned from playing international cricket in 1970 due to Apartheid.
He did however play 262 first class games, scoring 20 940 runs at an average of 54.67.
He scored 2 256 Test runs at an average of 60.97.
CLICK HERE to read Graeme Pollock's full interview on SA Cricketmag
