When news concerning South African cricket comes up, cricket fans anticipate it to emerge from one of two extremely polarizing reasons, either it is about the cricket team’s performance or about the governing body’s substandard administration.
As news surrounding the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) taking over Cricket South Africa (CSA) came out, all the fears regarding South African cricket came alive. Corresponding to International Cricket Council’s zero-tolerance policy regarding government intervention in cricketing bodies among its members, it seemed like a temporary ban for the Proteas was inevitable.
The context of a ban appears near South Africa because of two close reasons. First, they’ve already been banned once in the past, and for 21 long years. Second, ICC has been antiphonal to Zimbabwe, a nation not far away from South Africa, both cricket and distance-wise. The second scenario looks close to what South Africa is facing right now, as ICC suspended its funding and assistance when Zimbabwe failed to ensure there is no government influence in its cricket board. SASCOC’s decision, in many ways, looks like direct government intervention to many.
However, things are not as simple as they seem in this case. Cricket South Africa has always been a center of bad attention. Corruption charges, administrative failures, and racist accusations have plagued the administrative body for a long and were always overshadowed by the national team’s exceptional performance. It has always been this way since the Proteas’ second spell in international cricket started in 1991, and those who know how much it has affected the domestic circuit.
So what exactly happened this time? Why this sudden takeover? Any recent scandal or significant shift?
No. Cricket South Africa has seen four different CEOS in the past three years and has been plunging for long. The recent failure of the “new module” of domestic structure, diminishing relationship with the cricketers’ association, sponsors and stakeholders made SASCOC weary of the consequences that this might bring to cricket in the country. Hence, using the clause 9.1 35.4 of the SASCOC’s constitution that states, “members shall be subordinate to SASCOC and must comply with the Constitution of SASCOC and any directives issued by SASCOC from time to time subject to the proviso that any directive shall not be in conflict with any requirement of the relevant international body to which that member is affiliated,” SASCOC triggered the decision without any hesitation.
SASCOC’s recent statements claim the move to be independent and to “promote and develop high-performance sport.” In addition, to prevent the cricket board from speculations of a government takeover, SASCOC wrote a letter addressing ICC about the situation and making sure it’s being done for good and without government’s involvement. A part of the formal letter wrote, ” At no stage did SASCOC act under the direction of the Ministry of Sport. SASCOC rejects any allegation that the intervention constitutes government interference. In this regard, we are quite prepared to meet with you and discuss this issue to give you the assurance that the SASCOC intervention is a bona fide attempt to assist one of its members who
clearly and desperately needs such assistance.“
The news circulating about this saga might want you to accept that CSA have now been occupied by SASCOC, but the intentions of the sports governing body is to slow things down and watch what happens in a month. The decision will not have adverse effects on South African players scheduled to participate in various T20 franchise leagues around the globe. Since no significant series surrounds the national team as of right now, SASCOC will look to stabilize and release CSA on its own, before ICC comes to further inquire about the situation.