Saca and CSA: open warfare

South African Cricketers’ Association (Saca) head Tony Irish said Cricket South Africa CEO Thabang Moroe’s words about wanting to meet with the players union and there being no breakdown in their relationship were nonsense given how CSA have cut them from all committees and there is a court battle looming between the two parties.

The strained relationship broke into civil war this year over plans to restructure the domestic game which would cut 70 players from the professional ranks. Saca argued that the move was in breach of the memorandum of understanding they have with CSA because the players association were not properly consulted before the plan became policy. CSA have refused to divulge the financial details of the plan, which is why Saca have launched a court application to stop their moves to restructure the domestic game until there is full disclosure.

Moroe, in explaining their alterations to how the national team is run – with a director of cricket, only answerable to the CEO, having a team director below him – said Saca had “endorsed” the domestic restructuring and they were hoping to meet with them soon to explain the new Proteas set-up. Irish vigorously denied any endorsement had come from Saca and said CSA had once again made a decision without consulting the players union.

Moroe said the new Proteas structure was also designed to bring the national team more under CSA’s fold, cutting them loose from the players union.

“Saca has been around for 17 years, we are an experienced players’ association and we know what our role is. We have had a constructive relationship with CSA for 15 of those years, but there is an attempt to change that.

“CSA say they want to meet, but we have not had any response over our concerns over the breach of our agreements with them. They have kicked us off all the committees we used to be on.”