Players to clap from Boucher’s corner
Members of South Africa’s current squad will testify on behalf of head coach Mark Boucher when his disciplinary hearing begins on May 16.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) is seeking Boucher’s dismissal over charges of gross misconduct relating to his handling of historical and current race-based issues, including his participation in singing a song with the words “brown s***” to former teammate Paul Adams.
Boucher was formally charged on January 17.
At a meeting last Wednesday with disciplinary chair Terry Motau SC, CSA argued for the hearing to take place between March 7 and 11, after South Africa’s cricket side returns from New Zealand and before the cricket squad plays Bangladesh, and asked for “expediency and a speedy commencement”.
Boucher asked for dates in May – 10 to 19 specifically – because he wanted to call players as witnesses. Motau agreed to Boucher’s suggestion.
“Having considered both arguments, I agree with arguments advanced on behalf of Mr Boucher and I have decided to postpone the matter for the hearing to be held in the week commencing 16 to 20 May 2022,” Motau’s decision reads.
It is not clear which players Boucher is planning to call on or whether they
will be otherwise engaged at the IPL, which will be taking place at the same time as the hearings.
CSA had served Boucher with a seven-page charge sheet in January, which accused him of gross misconduct and bringing CSA into disrepute through historical and current handling of racial issues.
The most serious charges against Boucher are vis-à-vis the Adams incident, which was revealed by the former bowler at the Social Justice and Nation-building hearings.
Boucher admitted to singing the song, but said he did not compose the lyrics. In a written affidavit, Boucher apologised for his conduct.
CSA was not satisfied with his response and the charge sheet claimed he has conducted himself in “a racist or subliminally racist manner”.
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