South Africa’s future in international cricket tournaments now looks extremely uncertain. South Africa’s sports minister has planned to “de-recognize” Cricket South Africa. The country’s Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa has addressed CSA’s interim board and Members’ council.
Future Of South Africa’s Cricket In Jeopardy
Mthethwa made it clear that he has determined to de-fund and de-recognize Cricket South Africa. This comes after the Members Council has been holding out against accepting a new Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). Mthethwa and the interim board is strictly against a higher number of independent directors on its committee.
Now after this revelation South African cricket is in real danger as International Cricket Council (ICC) can take strict actions against them. The ICC disapproves of any type of government interference and has already suspended Zimbabwe in the past for the same.
“I have decided to invoke my powers… by de-funding and de-recognizing CSA. I will as soon as possible also inform the ICC of my decision and provide them with my reasons for doing so”, Mthethwa said in a letter to CSA on Friday.
“Only the Members Council can retrieve the situation now by resolving to support an expedited procedure (for the new MOI),” interim board chairman Stavros Nicolaou released a statement in response.
“It is deeply disappointing that a self-interested vocal minority voted against change while three members chose to abstain. These actions have now brought the game to its knees and will cause the greatest crisis since readmission”, he added.
Also Read: Cricket South Africa On The Verge Of Getting Banned By ICC
Meanwhile, ICC issued a statement earlier this week and announced that it “encourages Members to work with governments to resolve matters. Not all government intervention is problematic and for the ICC to get involved it requires a formal complaint from our Members that it is unwanted. Should that happen we will evaluate the situation based on the facts provided and plan an appropriate course of action”.
Also Read IPL 2021: Ben Stokes slams Chepauk Pitch; Calls The Wickets Calls It ‘Trash‘