TV chief ‘drained’ by saga

THE South African TV chief who uncovered the sandpaper-gate scandal believes it was a one off, while conceding his unease at the way it’s unfolded.

Super Sport’s head of production Alvin Naicker revealed that he was “drained” by the stunning take-down of Australia’s three top Test figures Steve Smith, David Warner and coach Darren Lehmann, likening the backlash to the Hansie Cronje match-fixing affair in 2000.

The man who watches cricket as closely as anyone on the planet spotted Cameron Bancroft shoving sandpaper in his trouser pocket to trigger the dramatic TV scenes that have led to the bans. He was confident it was an isolated incident amid suspicion from Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis — who has twice been nailed himself — about ball-tampering earlier in the series.

“Based on the productions I’ve been working on, I really do believe it’s a one off,’’ Naicker said. “For me this whole situation doesn’t sit well with me in my heart, it’s very difficult. After seeing the pressers [with Smith and Bancroft] I’m really struggling.

“It’s been emotionally draining. Reality struck when I was watching the TV and they were so emotional. This was never the intention, we never thought it would [unfold] like this. I’ve been in TV a long time, I know the impact of these kinds of things. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would get to this level.

“The last time I remember something so big in cricket was the Hansie Cronje [match-fixing] affair.”

Naicker said while he was a cricket lover, he had a job to do and had no regrets about his actions at Newlands, Cape Town last Friday.

While some of the Aussie-directed vitriol stems from their “headbutting the line” approach to cricket, which has involved sledging, Naicker said that had no bearing on his directing in the third Test.

“We’re not celebrating with champagne saying it was a good day for Super Sport. It’s a sad day for everybody, not good for anyone,’’ he said.

“I don’t get influenced by what happens off the field and it’s not a witch-hunt, let’s make that very clear.

“For a person that loves cricket and has a lot of Australian friends and mentors, it’s been difficult.”