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Nathi Mthethwa (Gallo Images)
- Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa was asked to get involved in the administrative issues affecting Cricket South Africa.
- Sascoc has written to the sports minister, alleging that he has encountered “serious resistance” from CSA in an attempt to investigate cricket problems.
- The latest move could jeopardize CSA’s membership in the International Cricket Council.
The South African cricket crisis deepened on Tuesday when it was revealed that the country’s sports minister had been asked to get involved in administrative issues affecting the sport.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has written to the sports minister Nathi Mthethwa claiming he had encountered “serious resistance” from Cricket South Africa (CSA) over an attempt to investigate problems in cricket.
The letter asks the minister for help in initiating legal action against CSA or “to take whatever action in its powers it deems necessary to restore the dignity of the game.”
The latest measure could jeopardize CSA’s membership in the International Cricket Council (ICC) because the ICC’s constitution prohibits government interference in its member bodies.
The latest revelation came 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 tournament usually features several foreign players and is broadcast internationally.
The CSA has yet to announce local or international matches for the 2020/21 season, although the South African cricket season traditionally begins in October.
Covid-19 restrictions are just one problem for the embattled watchdog.
Sascoc, a body that brings together all the elite sports codes in South Africa, demanded earlier this month that the CSA board step aside to allow an independent task force to investigate cricket’s administrative and financial matters.
A major hurdle has been CSA’s refusal to allow unrestricted access to a forensic report that served as the basis for the firing of CEO Thabang Moroe last month after an eight-month investigation.
Sascoc believes that the report implicates other people besides Moroe.
Currently, CSA does not have a permanent president or CEO.
Its annual general meeting scheduled for earlier this month was postponed indefinitely and the organization has come under fire for its players’ association, while the sponsors have withdrawn their support.
