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Minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa.
(Images by Gallo / Jeffrey Abrahams)
- There is growing concern that the administrative crisis at CSA could result in ICC intervention or suspension.
- The Members Council refuses to recognize the interim board, which was introduced by Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa last month.
- The constitution of the ICC makes it clear that government control of one of its member associations is not allowed.
Thursday’s events confirmed that Cricket South Africa (CSA)Administratively, it remains in a desperate situation.
On October 30, Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced the appointment of an interim CSA board that would function for at least three months to clean up the mess.
This followed the resignation of the entire previous CSA board at Mthethwa’s request after he had threatened to “intervene” in the running of the organization if that did not happen.
The government and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) have been interested in CSA affairs for more than two months with Fundudzi’s forensic report, which independently interrogated the organization’s leaders over a period of four years dating back to 2016, key to their participation.
Mthethwa has made it clear that administratively CSA needs a drastic change and this interim board was the first step.
On Thursday, however, the actions of the CSA Council of Members threatened the entire process when, through CSA interim president Rihan Richards, he refused to recognize Mthethwa’s interim board for a variety of reasons, including conflict. of interest on the inclusion of former CEO Haroon Lorgat and a fundamental factor. break between the parties.
It took the Council of Members two weeks to reach that decision after the interim board was first unveiled and now, with England just days away from arriving in the country for a limited tour against the Proteas, there are concerns over which one. will be Mthethwa’s answer. be.
Indeed, when Mthethwa began engaging with CSA and wielding the rod of government power in September, there were concerns about what that might mean for cricket in South Africa, and specifically the Proteas.
The constitution of the International Cricket Council (ICC) makes it clear that member countries could face suspension from international cricket and major ICC events if the government intervenes in the operation or control of one of their councils.
One month ago, Sport24 received clarity from the ICC on what had to happen for the gaming governing body to take any action.
The response was that the ICC was closely monitoring the situation at CSA, but that any possible intervention would only be carried out through a written request or complaint from the CSAs themselves.
While the international suspension is a last resort and only reserved for extreme circumstances, Thursday’s events certainly increase those chances a bit because the Council of Members is now effectively creating a showdown with the minister.
It leaves a situation where, at the moment, it is unclear who runs South African cricket: Mthethwa, the Council of Members or the interim board?
If Mthethwa’s response to the Membership Council’s decision, as expected, reaffirms that the interim board has been mandated to clean up CSA and that they should be seen as that authority, then the Membership Council might have nowhere else to turn. Than to the ICC for help.
And, if that happens, then CSA has followed the exact steps that could result in a suspension.
In July last year, Zimbabwe was suspended by the ICC when its government replaced its cricket board.
Suddenly, a similar scenario does not seem so far-fetched in South Africa.
