CAPE TOWN: Former Test captain Graeme Smith is set to become Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket, according to CSA president Chris Nenzani as the crisis continues.
Tony Irish, chief executive of the SA Cricketers Association (SACA), which called for Nenzani and the entire board to resign, said in a tweet:
“Appalled that the president and board of CSA have taken no responsibility for cricket’s biggest crisis. Now clinging to power.”
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Asked for clarification, Irish described his tweet as “my initial reaction” and that said SACA was likely to make a detailed response. Nenzani said that he had spoken to Smith but refused to heed calls to resign.
“I am happy to announce that we have engaged Graeme Smith and I am confirming that by next week Wednesday all of the negotiations around the contract terms that need to take place would have been concluded,” said Nenzani, speaking after a special board meeting of CSA, following a week of crisis for the organisation.
If Smith does agree to take the job he will have just over two weeks to put a selection panel and coaching staff in place before the first of four Tests against England, starting in Centurion on December 26.
Former Proteas captain, Graeme Smith is in final talks with CSA on cementing his role as Director of Cricket. #CSAMediaBriefing pic.twitter.com/n7vq69Mkkf
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 7, 2019
Nenzani said the board had been mandated by the organisation’s members’ council “to continue to guide us through this period and turn it around”.
The press conference came after a tumultuous week during which five leading journalists had their accreditation withdrawn.
A major sponsor announced it would not renew its agreement with CSA and chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended on charges of misconduct. Several prominent individuals have called for the board to resign.
However, Nenzani said the issue had not been raised at a meeting of the members council. He brushed off the resignations of three of the board’s five independent directors.
Nenzani said Jacques Faul, the chief executive of the Northerns cricket union and a former acting chief executive of CSA, had agreed to again become the acting chief executive with immediate effect.
“As a board we have noted the apology that has come from the CEO and as a board we endorse that apology.” – CSA President, Chris Nenzani on the revocation of accreditation of five members of the media. #CSAMediaBriefing pic.twitter.com/BXSfTCjeJX
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 7, 2019
