Former South African cricket captain Kepler Wessels lashed out at the United Cricket Board (UCB) on Wednesday, claiming the board had a vendetta against him after they demanded his immediate suspension.
Wessels, however, welcomed his suspension pending an investigation into alleged racist remarks he had uttered.
”I’m very pleased it has come to this,” responded Wessels, the Eastern Province coach. ”My legal team and I are eager to clear my name and want to get this sorted out as soon as possible.”
According to a letter of complaint received by the Eastern Province Cricket Board, Wessels is accused of referring to black players as ”animals”.
”It’s completely untrue,” insisted Wessels. ”It just never happened. The UCB must have some sort of vendetta against me.”
Brandon Foot, an executive member of the UCB, phoned Kevin Helm, the judicial manager of the EP Board, and instructed him to suspend Wessels with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Helm explained that the matter first came to light last Tuesday when he received a letter of complaint from the predominantly coloured Gelvandale Cricket Club.
”There was an allegation that Wessels told Johann Louw [an EP seam bowler] to stop talking to the animals and come and warm up,” explained Helm on Wednesday.
”We were going to hold our own inquiry when we got this instruction from the UCB.
”I actually haven’t had an opportunity to ask Kepler whether the allegations are true because the team has just returned from Benoni.”
Helm added that he would take an extremely serious view if the allegations proved to be true.
”If it was said in a derogatory manner then, yes, I’d take a very dim view of it. But we haven’t had a chance of finding that out yet.”
Helm, who was appointed joint judicial manager 18 months ago after poor management had led to near financial disaster at the board, also expressed his displeasure that the media was made aware of the suspension before Wessels was notified. — Sapa