SA vs AUS 2018: CSA Officials Spotted Posing With Fans in Sonny Bill Masks

It looks like not only the South African players but also the officials are in no mood to move on after several controversies marred the first Test against Australia.

Australia opener David Warner was at the centre of the storm during the game.

Warner had faced criticism after celebrating animatedly following the run-out of AB de Villiers. The game then took an ugly turn when a CCTV footage had emerged, showing Warner and Quinton de Kock being involved in a heated exchange at tea on day four.

Australia had managed just one wicket between lunch and tea with de Kock and Aiden Markram forging a partnership that revived the hosts’ bleak hopes of chasing down 417. And as the players left the field, emotions appeared to boil over.

It was followed by widespread criticism and sanction from the ICC for both the players. Well, it looks like the dust is yet to settle.

In fact, there is a possibility that another storm might arrive after two Cricket South Africa executives were photographed at the ongoing second Test posing alongside spectators wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks. The masks were sported as a ploy to taunt David Warner.

The two officials were Clive Eksteen, CSA’s head of commercial and marketing, and Altaaf Kazi, the organisation’s head of communications.

The duo smiled and put their arms around each other, as they stood alongside three men in masks on the first day of the game on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Australian team is well aware of the ploy. And not surprisingly, they are outraged by it. They are also miffed by the CSA’s call to allow the masks on the ground.

Candice, Warner’s wife, was in a relationship with Williams in 2007, years before she met the Australia batsman. As per reports, Warner had lost his cool during the first Test when de Kock had taunted him about his wife.

Meanwhile, according to reports, Australia was well aware of the fans’ ploy. The visitors came to know about it due to pictures posted of them being made on social media on the eve of the match.

Eastern Cape has always had a sense of humour: fans getting Sonny Bill masks ready for day one of the second Test in Port Elizabeth. pic.twitter.com/jXU0cEBwfE

— Dan Nicholl (@dannicholl) March 8, 2018

Australia were keen to ensure that CSA does not allow the masks on Friday since Candice and the couple’s two young daughters were in attendance at the ground. The visitors had asked the ground officials not to allow the fans enter the ground with masks.

However, it fell on deaf ears, as the securities allowed the fans to carry the masks after being instructed by CSA.

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