New rift emerges in SA as suspended CEO returns

Johannesburg, June 12: The power struggle at the top of South African cricket escalated as Thabang Moroe said he was back in charge, but his board responded Friday by saying the chief executive was still suspended.

Moroe attempted to return to work, saying that a six-month suspension on full pay had expired. He was initially thwarted because the offices of Cricket South Africa (CSA) were in lockdown because of Covid-19, with staff working from home.

CSA responded in the early hours of Friday saying the suspension remained in force until the completion of a forensic investigation into allegations of misconduct. It promised that more “clarity and certainty will be provided by the end of June”. While Moroe has been suspended, major changes have taken place in the CSA administration under acting chief executive Jacques Faul, with former Test captain Graeme Smith appointed as director of cricket and former player Mark Boucher as head coach,

under an arrangement that largely sidelines the board.

CSA has faced heavy criticism with sponsors and former administrators calling for the resignation of the board or, alternatively, for president Chris Nenzani and vice-president Beresford Williams to step aside. Nenzani was granted an extra year last September despite having served the maximum two three-year terms permitted by the CSA constitution. Under Moroe, there was a breakdown in relations with the SA Cricketers’ Association, which represents the country’s professional players.