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Cricketer’s Association pleads with Cricket SA officials to get their act together

David Miller and Temba Bavuma of South Africa celebrate with Tabraiz Shamsi and Quinton de Kock who combine to to get the wicket of D'Arcy Short of Australia during the 2020 Momentum One Day International Series game between South Africa and Australia at Boland Park in Paarl on 29 February 2020.
David Miller and Temba Bavuma of South Africa celebrate with Tabraiz Shamsi and Quinton de Kock who combine to to get the wicket of D'Arcy Short of Australia during the 2020 Momentum One Day International Series game between South Africa and Australia at Boland Park in Paarl on 29 February 2020.
Image: © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

The South African Cricketer’s Association (Saca) has pleaded with Cricket SA officials to get their act together for the sake of the game as the embattled organisation continues to lurch from one crisis to the next.

The plea came a day after CSA announced that the long-awaited annual general meeting that was to take place on Saturday was postponed‚ leaving the embattled organisation with an acting president. The organisation was to elect a new president and board members.

The Proteas players said in the statement issued on Tuesday that the administrators have to abide to the same high standards they have to adhere to.

“High standards are expected of us as players. To succeed as Proteas teams‚ we know we have to put aside personal differences and work together.

"We require the same of our administrators. Politics and self-interest appear to trump cricket imperatives and good governance. Decisions must be made that are in the best interests of cricket‚ failing which the game we love may be irreparably damaged in this country‚” the statement said

“The Proteas teams must be strong‚ the domestic structure must be strong‚ and the transformation pipeline must be strong – we demand that this be the focus of the CSA Board and Operational Team.”

The postponement of the AGM was based on two critical issues; those being governance issues that have to be reviewed alongside the 2012 Nicholson report‚ and outstanding issues surrounding the much-awaited forensic report that has yet to be released to Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and CSA’s member’s council.

Last week‚ the organisation fired its long-suspended chief executive officer Thabang Moroe while the member’s council haven’t been able to see the forensic report.

The statement‚ signed by a number of Protea players‚ said this was the worst time for the game to be going through turmoil as the financial well-being of the game is at risk.

“As Proteas players‚ both men and women‚ we are concerned about the future of our game. At board and operational level‚ Cricket South Africa has lurched from crisis to crisis over the past year‚” the statement said

“Issues such as suspensions‚ dismissals‚ resignations‚ forensic audits‚ confidential leaks‚ litigation and financial mismanagement have dominated the cricket headlines. This is happening at a time when we are having challenging conversations about transformation and in an environment where the financial viability of the game is under major threat.”

The statement was signed by:

Aiden Markram‚ Andile Phehlukwayo‚ Anrich Nortje‚ Ayabonga Khaka‚ Beuran Hendricks‚ Chloe Tryon‚ Dané van Niekerk‚ David Miller‚ Dean Elgar‚ Dwaine Pretorius‚ Faf du Plessis‚ Kagiso Rabada‚ Keshav Maharaj‚ Laura Wolvaardt‚ Lizelle Lee‚ Lungi Ngidi‚ Marizanne Kapp‚ Masabatha Klaas‚ Mignon du Preez‚ Nadine de Klerk‚ Quinton de Kock‚ Rassie van der Dussen‚ Reeza Hendricks‚ Shabnim Ismail‚ Sinalo Jafta‚ Sune Luus‚ Tabraiz Shamzi‚ Temba Bavuma‚ Trisha Chetty‚ Tumi Sekhukhune

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