The crisis in South African cricket, which could see the governing body of the sport – Cricket South Africa (CSA) – stripped of its recognition by the government, with severe implications for players and the financial health of the game, seems to have been resolved.
On Sunday CSA’s independent board and the members’ council – comprised of the presidents of the fourteen provincial unions – met to agree to a new Memorandum of Incorporation for CSA, which would also see the body’s board have the majority of its members being independent.
The members’ council had been resistant to the idea but facing the threat of government intervention by sports minister, Nathi Mthethwa, which would have dire consequences for the game in South Africa, the members’ council reached détente with the independent board.
Said Stavros Nicolaou, the board’s interim chair: ‘Today we reached an important milestone, and I am delighted that the members’ council and the Board reached agreement on a new governance structure.’
To avert the threatened government intervention CSA must adopt the new MOI by today.