CSA exercises ‘step-in rights’ to control EP Cricket affairs

CRICKET South Africa yesterday swooped in to wrest control of Eastern Province Cricket in a bid to sort out its off-field problems.

A stalled annual general meeting election process and staff restructuring system, both of which have been flawed, saw CSA exercise its “step-in rights” into the affairs of EP Cricket.

On Thursday, 21 metro clubs endorsed a letter to CSA requesting the national body to take control after certain nominees were omitted from an original list of candidates for the election of officebearers of EP Cricket.

In a letter from CSA to Dr Malcolm Figg, the acting EP Cricket president was yesterday instructed by the national body to immediately postpone the AGM, which was adjourned from last Saturday and scheduled to reconvene today.

Figg was also informed in the letter that CSA will appoint a caretaker officer to manage the affairs of EP Cricket and the adjourned election process, and that CSA reserves the right to send its senior executive staff to assist in managing EP Cricket affairs.

However, Figg said he had not received an e-mail outlining any detail.

“[CSA president] Chris [Nenzani] phoned me earlier on and he said that he was going to send some form of communication and up until now I haven’t received any correspondence. I’ll wait for that and once I get that I will be able to say something,” Figg said.

He did confirm that the AGM would not reconvene today.

CSA has worked around the clock in trying to restore its tarnished image brought about in the recent past by corporate governance failures.

The latest unsavoury goings on at EP Cricket have become a concern to CSA’s board and the plea from the clubs seems to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The 21 clubs opted not to comment on CSA’s decision, merely saying that “this was a victory for transparency and we can now move forward and restore the image of the brand”.

The following reasons have forced CSA into flexing its muscle:

Eastern Province Cricket’s financial viability is under severe stress after a recorded R3-million loss for the last financial year;

Allegations from a large number of cricket clubs in the metro against the current EP Cricket board, led by acting president Dr Malcolm Figg, of substantial flaws in the nominations process for the election of directors; and

A number of senior management have left, are leaving or threatening to leave.

A statement, released yesterday afternoon, read: “The board of directors of CSA has exercised its step-in rights into the affairs of Eastern Province Cricket with immediate effect.

“This has been done in terms of the provisions of clause 12.4 of CSA’s Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI).

“The board passed the following resolution: It is resolved that, given the gravity of the situation in which EP Cricket finds itself, and the potential reputational risk and adverse effects on the administration of the game in this region, the board recommends that CSA exercise its step-in rights in terms of the provisions of clause 12.4 of the MOI.”

CSA board chairman Chris Nenzani was quoted in the release as saying: “The board is extremely concerned by recent events in Eastern Province Cricket regarding its financial management and the process followed regarding the election of office-bearers at this year’s annual general meeting.”