United Cricket Board (UCB) CEO Gerald Majola has rapped national coach Ray Jennings over the knuckles for his outspoken comments to reporters. This emerged from an e-mail accidentally sent to the media on Tuesday by UCB media manager Gerald de Kock.
In the e-mail, Majola referred to an interview with Colin Bryden of the Sunday Times that was published on Sunday.
”In the light of the interview, I would like to draw your attention to certain issues,” said Majola in the e-mail. ”As the coach of the national team and a selector, you are a contracted employee of Cricket South Africa (Pty) Ltd [CSA], and as such are bound by your employment contract to abide by certain policies regarding public statements.”
”I refer in particular to paragraph 4.8.1, 4.8.2 and 4.9.
”Rule 4.8.1 states: ‘He shall not make any statement to the media or any other public statement which would bring the game of cricket, or the CSA’s affiliates, associates, employees, management, staff, suppliers, or any other persons involved in any manner with the CSA or their office bearers into disrepute;’
”In rule 4.8.2: ‘He shall not make any statement which is critical of the CSA or its affiliated members or the umpires or the players and officials of other countries through the aforementioned media;’
”And rule 4.9 states: ”To address all complaints, observations or requests which he may have arising from the matches, or which may arise from the implementation of this agreement, in the first instance through the CEO (or his delegate) of the CSA duly authorised representative of the CSA.”’
The rebuke apparently relates to comments Jennings made about former vice-captain Mark Boucher. Jennings said he did not know why Boucher had been left out of the national team, but he believed he had ”paid his dues”, and should be brought back into the team.
Jennings also made it clear that he thought that Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje should sort out their problems with the Indian police over the Hansie Cronje match-fixing affair. Neither player travelled to India on the recent tour for fear of possible police action against them.
De Kock said it is unfortunate that the memorandum was sent to the media.
”I was drafting a memorandum for Gerald Majola, and I had to send out an urgent message to the media. I accidentally sent the draft memorandum at the same time.” — Sapa