We Are Supporting Him Through This Process: Dean Elgar Lends Backing To Mark Boucher In Racism Hearing

South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar has lent his support to underfired national team coach Mark Boucher who is facing a Cricket South Africa disciplinary hearing on charges of gross misconduct in May.

Boucher has been accused of racism by former teammate Paul Adams and of sidelining his former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe. He denies both allegations. Cricket South Africa wanted the hearings to be held next month after the New Zealand tour which begins February 17 but were postponed to May in order to allow players to testify at the request of Boucher’s legal team.

Advocate Terry Motau, chairing the inquiry set up by Cricket South Africa, said he had decided to postpone the hearing in light of the request from Boucher’s legal team for current players to testify. Cricket South Africa had wanted it to be held from March 7-11.

South Africa travel to New Zealand for a two-Test series starting February 17, and later host Bangladesh from March 18. Boucher’s team indicated that having a hearing between the two tours would be disruptive.

“Cricket comes first for us, irrespective of what our head coach is going through. But we are supporting him through this process because we know how much value he adds to our system and our group. He is a massive part of it. It is just another hurdle in our path that we have to get over. We need to stick together, which we have done in the past, and let this process follow its course,” Elgar spoke on Boucher ahead of the team’s departure for New Zealand on Wednesday.

Dean Elgar Not Sure About Which Players Will Be Testifying In The Hearings

Mark Boucher’s one-time South Africa teammate Paul Adams last year alleged he was subjected to racial discrimination and name-calling during his time with the national team, with Boucher later apologizing “unreservedly for any offensive conduct, real or perceived”.

Elgar also said that he is unaware of the names of the players who will be called upon to testify by Mark Boucher’s lawyers.

“We only heard about it today, we haven’t heard anything else. I doubt it will affect the team, this process has been up in the air for some time now. We had a feeling it might come to this point where players would be asked to testify, and so be it,” Elgar said.

The hearing is now expected to take place on May 16.

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