/ 10 September 2011

Cricket body denies players badmouthing Nyoka

Cricket Body Denies Players Badmouthing Nyoka

The South African Cricketers’ Association (Saca) denied on Saturday that the country’s international players had spoken out against Cricket South Africa (CSA) President Mtutuzeli Nyoka in his ongoing battle with the national federation.

“Certain statements and media reports have created the impression that the national players support, or are critical of, one side or the other in the current controversy,” Saca CEO Tony Irish said in a statement.

“This is totally incorrect. The players are not involved in this issue and have expressed no views in favour of, or against, one side or the other.”

A day earlier CSA said Nyoka had received notice of a special general meeting on October 15 where he would be given a vote of no confidence for the second time this year.

AJ Sooklal, the head of CSA’s corporate governance and legal committee, said the Proteas players had spoken out against Nyoka.

“The national team has indicated that the president is but a ‘poor example’ in regard to the contraventions of the media protocol of CSA,” Sooklal read from a written statement.

Keeping a distance
Saca said the players refused to get involved in the clash between the governing body’s chief administrators.

“There have been no letters or statements by the players or by Saca as suggested in some reports,” Irish said.

He added that the players would steer clear of the matter entirely with home tours coming up this season against Australia and Sri Lanka.

“This entire saga is messy, political and emotionally charged,” Irish said.

“The players, and we as the Players’ Association, have stayed out of it.

“The players are committed to the Proteas and focussed on preparations for the season which is about to start.”

Constant conflicts
Irish said they hoped the CSA chiefs could solve their issues with Nyoka embroiled in a battle against CEO Gerald Majola and the board.

“Saca and the players appeal to the leaders within CSA to do whatever they can to resolve the current differences within the organisation in order to prevent further damage to the game,” Irish said.

Having already once been booted from his post in February, Nyoka was reinstated two months later after winning a case at the high court in Johannesburg.

Nyoka had called repeatedly for an independent audit of CSA’s financial affairs but Majola was cleared of irregular conduct — with respect to the Companies’ Act and fiduciary duties of directors — after the board received a report from advocate Azhar Bham, based on the findings of a KPMG audit, last month.

Failing to get his hands on a copy of Bham’s report this week, Nyoka reportedly laid charges with the Hawks. — Sapa