ISLAMABAD – Cricket South Africa said Wednesday it had placed three topofficials on “precautionary suspension”.
No names were given but South African media reported that they includedCorrie van Zyl, the interim director of cricket, who was seen as afront-runner for the full-time role which holds responsibility for thenational team.
The suspensions came less than two months before South Africa host Englandin a four-Test series, with the key positions of director of cricket andteam director yet to be filled.
CSA said in a statement the suspensions were related to a dispute overunpaid fees to players following the Mzansi Super League T20 tournamentlast year. The 2019 version of the tournament starts on November 8.
The other officials reportedly suspended are chief operating officer NaaseiAppiah and sponsorship head Clive Eksteen.
The suspensions came a week after the South African Cricketers´ Association(SACA), which represents professional players, declared a dispute with CSAover money it said was due to the players for commercial rights relating tothe MSL 2018.
CSA said it was investigating whether the suspended officials were”derelict in fulfilling their duties” and that disciplinary action couldfollow. It said all fees due to the players would be paid to SACAimmediately.
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The latest upheavals come at a time when the national team appears to be indisarray. Ottis Gibson and his coaching staff were fired after a poor WorldCup campaign and a new structure was announced, with a team director to beappointed who would report to the director of cricket.
Van Zyl, a long-time employee of CSA, was appointed interim director ofcricket and Enoch Nkwe was made appointed interim team director following asuccessful season as coach of the Lions franchise.
Nkwe was in charge of the team that suffered three heavy defeats in threeTests in India earlier this month.
Applications for the permanent posts close tomorrow. The first Test againstEngland starts on December 26. -APP/AFP
