South Africa Cricketers Ask Board To Put Politics Aside To Avoid Downfall

Cricket South Africa faced a major turmoil in the past few years and continues to find ways to overcome it. The national team players have issued a joint-statement asking the cricket board to set aside their political and self-interest or face consequences. The step has been taken by the national players as the board has lurched from crisis to crisis the last few years.

The board had postpone its AGM which was supposed to elect a new president and members for CSA. Officials mentioned that the delay was made as number of processes needed to take place first, including a review of its governance model and reconfiguration of its organisational structure.

“Cricket South Africa has lurched from crisis to crisis over the past year,” leading male and female national team players said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

“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.”

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, current skipper Quinton de Kock, fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi along side women’s team captain Dane van Niekerk were among the cricketers to have issued the statement.

“High standards are expected of us as players. We require the same of our administrators. Politics and self-interest appear to trump cricket imperatives and good governance,” said the signatories in the statement.

“This may be the last chance we have to change direction and save the game. As Proteas we demand that all stakeholders heed our sincere plea.”

Meanwhile, the new dates for the AGM is still to be announced.