Sascoc ask government to intervene in Cricket South Africa crisis

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Cricket365
September 29, 2020

The ongoing crisis in South African cricket took a new twist on Tuesday when it was revealed that Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa had been asked to get involved in the administrative problems affecting the game.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has written to Mthethwa claiming that it is meeting with extreme resistance from Cricket South Africa (CSA) over an attempt to probe the governance of the sport.

Sascoc ask for government intervention

The letter sent on Tuesday asks Mthethwa for assistance in launching legal proceedings against CSA or “to take whatever action in your powers you deem necessary to restore the dignity of the game”.

The ICC’s constitution forbids government interference in its member bodies so the latest development could put CSA’s place at the international cricket Council table in jeopardy.

The latest revelation comes just a day after CSA announced that the Mzansi Super League, its flagship T20 tournament, would not take place as scheduled in November and December due to logistical problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The MSL usually features several foreign players and is broadcast internationally in partnership with India broadcasting giant Sony.

At the time of writing, no local or international fixtures for the 2020/21 season have been announced by CSA. The South African cricket season traditionally starts in October.

Restrictions related to the ongoing pandemic are just one problem for the embattled controlling body.

Sascoc operates as the Olympic committee and an umbrella body for all elite sporting codes in South Africa. The oversight body demanded earlier this month that the board of CSA step aside to allow an independent task team to investigate cricket’s administrative and financial affairs.

A major stumbling block has been CSA’s continued refusal to allow unfettered access to a forensic report which formed the basis for the dismissal of former chief executive Thabang Moroe after an eight-month investigation. Moroe was suspended late last year but his employment at CSA was only terminated in August.

Sascoc believes the report implicates individuals other than Moroe who continue to serve in prominent roles within South African cricket.

CSA in a hole

CSA is currently without a president or a permanent chief executive with vice-president Beresford Williams helming the board and Chief Commercial Officer Kugandrie Govender acting as CEO.

The body’s scheduled annual general meeting earlier this month was postponed indefinitely and the organisation has been criticised by its players’ association, while multiple sponsors have withdrawn their support.