More woes for CSA as players threaten strike action
Former SA fast bowler Van der Bijl scathing in attack on CSA
THERE might be an additional item on the agenda at Cricket SA’s emergency board meeting on Saturday if the country’s players follow through on a threat to strike.
The SA Cricketers’ Association (Saca), which represents the country’s professional players including the men’s and women’s Proteas, said yesterday that it would hold a meeting of its players’ executive committee and its management board to discuss the manner in which the association and the players were being treated by the CSA.
“This discussion is likely to include the possibility of the players taking some form of industrial, or protest, action,” said Saca chief executive Tony Irish.
“Saca has always considered strike, and other similar forms of industrial action, to be a very last resort and in its 17 years of dealing with the CSA not one day of cricket has ever been lost to industrial action,” he said.
“However, things have now reached a stage where we must ask what Saca and the players are expected to do when the leadership of CSA, both operationally and on its board, continue to ignore our legitimate concerns and refuse to acknowledge the players as key stakeholders in the game,” he continued. Irish’s final point was illustrated in an apology made by the CSA’s chief executive, Thabang Moroe, on Tuesday evening, which he addressed to “key stakeholders” that included fans, sponsors, the media, but not the players.
“CSA says it’s been engaging with key stakeholders,” Irish tweeted after Moroe’s apology. “No engagement with us. Clearly it doesn’t consider @SACAplayers and players as key stakeholders.”
The rift between CSA and Saca, which represents more than 300 professional cricketers, including all of the Proteas’ men and women, has grown to oceanic proportions in the last 12 months, culminating first in Saca taking the CSA to court over the proposed restructuring of the domestic game and now in this threat of industrial action.
This latest incident stems again from Saca accusing the CSA of illegitimately using the players’ images for commercial gain in relation to the Mzansi Super League.
A failure to pay for the image rights of players for last year’s tournament almost led to a players’ strike in this year’s competition until the CSA coughed up in the region of R2.4 million shortly before the competition started. That drama led to the suspension of three senior officials, whose disciplinary hearings were still in the process of being handled.
“CSA has used, and allowed the use of the names and images of players in association with a fantasy league game related to Mzansi Super League without any rights to do so and despite Saca having relayed to CSA that such use is unlawful,” Irish said about the latest dispute with CSA.
“The situation has continued despite our concerns raised on repeated occasions.” Saca said it had also expressed its concerns that if players’ images were used in this fantasy league game some may draw an association between the players and gambling and betting practices, which was not permitted under CSA’s anti-corruption code.
RENOWNED former South African fast bowler Vince van der Bijl says “urgent action” is needed to save South African cricket, starting with the resignation of Cricket SA’s president and chief executive.
Van der Bijl said the trust between CSA and two of its most important entities – the public and the players – has been broken.
“It is time now for direct action and it is my considered and very sad view that Thabang Moroe should stand down, as should the president, Chris Nenzani, and (CSA) develop new executives,” said Van der Bijl.
“It is very sad for me to have to say I think that the cricket family in this country is disillusioned, because of the executive management of the game through CSA.
“I’ve always believed that there are two important components in cricket – the players and the fans – and everything centres around those two. Everyone else is a backdrop to support those two areas – (Broadcasters) with the fans, the press with the fans, the public marketing with the fans, and obviously the players have to be in sync.
“What we are seeing is a real break, with not just the South African Cricketers Association, who represent every professional player in the country, but also the WP Cricket Association and others,” Van der Bijl explained.
Both Saca and the WPCA brought court action against CSA, with the latter winning in its arbitration after CSA had dismissed the entire board and appointed an administrator. CSA lost that case and had to pick up the legal bill for both parties, adding further to debt it currently faces.
Saca, meanwhile, took CSA to court in May over the restructuring of the domestic game and what it will mean for the country’s players. That case is still ongoing in the South Gauteng High Court.
“We need action to ensure that positions in the game itself at the top level are being held by the right people which would include the Director of Cricket, the convenor of the selection panel, the permanent coach, the captain and we have to get serious people who are serious about management and serious about cricket to do this very serious job,” said Van der Bijl.
Van der Bijl has worked in various structures within the sport both locally and at ICC level in the last 20 years and is currently involved with development initiatives in Masipumelele in the Western Cape.
While he spoke to Independent Media in his personal capacity, he said his decision to speak out now had been influenced by speaking to people who had a deep understanding and love of cricket.
“As we sit right now, we have no Director of Cricket, we have an interim coach, no selection panel, and on top of that, three very key people – Corrie van Zyl, Clive Eksteen and Nassei Appiah – are not there to give their considered wisdom and advice,” he said of the senior administrative trio who suspended by Moroe for what was described as a “dereliction of their duties”.
“We find ourselves in a vacuum, about to go into a series (against England) that we really should win, with our bowling.
“I’ve seen and spoken to so many people of interest and influence on the street and they are moving away from the game.
“I admire Faf du Plessis for holding his ground to support his team through this troubled time. I admire Saca for holding their ground for ensuring the players are properly looked after and there is transparency in the system regarding finances and dealing with the administration.”
Van der Bijl said that in the event of both Moroe and Nenzani stepping down, an interim CEO should be appointed.
“There are people of real gravitas who can perform these tasks. It’s going to be a slow ride, there is no easy switch,” he commented.
“Unless the executive at CSA and the board understand that players and fans are the keys to growth and to the enhancing of real strength with transformation and the overall strength within in our cricket, unless they understand it from grassroots, then they have lost the plot,” Van der Bijl stated.