SA cricketers refuse to deal with board

CAPETOWN: South Africa’s cricket crisis continued on Monday when the South African Cricketers’ Association repeated its call for Cricket South Africa’s board to resign—and said it would refuse to negotiate with any members of the board.

SACA chief executive Tony Irish said his organisation, which represents the country’s professional cricketers, was prepared to deal with interim chief executive Jacques Faul but not with any CSA panel if it included members of the board.

South Africa host England this month for four Tests, three ODIS and three T20IS and the impasse could put the tour in doubt.

In a statement, Irish said the suspension of chief executive Thabang Moroe, announced on Friday, should have been followed by the resignation of the board. CSA president Chris Nenzani announced the appointment of Faul at a press conference after a board meeting on Saturday and claimed that a deal was close to being signed for Graeme Smith to become director of cricket. But Nenzani brushed off widespread calls for the board to resign.

SACA’S statement listed a large number of issues which had arisen under the board’s watch, including “forecasts of huge and unprecedented financial deficits, systematic breaches of agreements, high profile court cases and legal disputes, reports of uncontrolled spending by staff, admissions of the need for a forensic audit, suspension upon suspension of CSA employees, failure to put in place Proteas’ (national) team structures, attempts to silence the media, resignations of independent directors... and withdrawal of the game’s biggest sponsor.”

Irish said the issues had unfolded over a period of time, “mostly with its (the board’s) knowledge and some even with its support”. “We are astounded that the board of CSA which has led the organisation during a tumultuous period now refuses to take responsibility for the deep, deep crisis in which cricket finds itself,” said Irish.

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