Fallout from T20 league haunts CSA
Franchise bosses issue legal threat
Cricket South Africa’s apparent attempts to defuse the growing anger of some of their T20 franchise owners have backfired.
Instead of being placated about their position‚ the owners are seemingly more intent than ever on dragging what remains of their relationship with the board through the legal system.
TimesLIVE understands that CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe‚ acting chief operating officerNaasei Appiah and independent directors Louis von Zeuner and Iqbal Khan met with the owners of six of the eight T20 Global League (T20GL) franchises in Dubai and Mumbai last week.
Sources who were present at one of the meetings described the atmosphere as “fiery”.
Last week’s meetings are the latest twist in a saga that took its first public wrong turn in October‚ when CSA postponed the inaugural edition of the T20GL because it would‚ they said‚ have cost millions in losses.
CSA have since refunded the owners their deposits and said in June they had entered into an equity partnership with SuperSport for a new competition‚ which is set to be launched this summer. The league could involve six teams and be scaled back from the extravaganza promised last year.
But the T20GL owners are adamant they have a right to be part of the venture and have threatened legal action.
Sources say the owners want a collective 49% stake in the competition and for CSA to back out of their deal with SuperSport.
A statement from Nelson Mandela Bay Stars owner Ajay Sethi, issued “on behalf of the owners”, said “it is clear that CSAare not committed to fulfilling their side of the deal with the bona fide T20GL owners”.
A CSA spokesperson said Moroe was due back in South Africa on Monday night and would likely talk to the board later this week. –