SACA sets deadline for implementation of Nicholson report

Johannesburg: The South African Cricketers Association (SACA) today asked its Board to finalise the transformation plans recommended in the Nicholson inquiry report by early next year.

SACA has already lodged a labour dispute against Cricket South Africa (CSA) on behalf of its players at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, but has put it on hold pending the Board`s annual meeting scheduled on February 2, 2013. "We`ve pushed CSA to finalise its board structure and board appointments," Tony Irish, the association`s chief executive, told the daily The Times. "There`s controversy and uncertainty in the game until they have done that. We want that to end," he said. The players` body, however, praised CSA`s efforts in following Nicholson`s recommendations but said the process needs to be completed and the system be put in place. Nicholson Inquiry was instituted by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula in the wake of internal wrangling at CSA, for almost two years, over IPL 2 bonuses that now sacked Chief Executive Gerald Majola paid irregularly to himself and other senior CSA staff. The inquiry recommended wide-ranging changes to the internal processes and structures of CSA, which the Board said it was keen to implement. But plans were held up by Majola`s disciplinary process and challenges in the proposed appointment of new independent directors as recommended by Nicholson. IPL 2 was played in South Africa due to security concerns around the time of general elections in India. CSA Acting President Willie Basson said matters such as these were beyond its control and that CSA has "moved like lightning" in its attempts to address the poor corporate governance identified by the Nicholson. The latest delay to the process is an objection by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to the CSA plans. "Sascoc want sport to remain in the hands of sports people," Basson said. "An independent board, an independent Chairman and a smaller board were the core issues of Nicholson," he said. Sascoc, however, objected about the independent board to the minister. "Deputy sports minister Gert Oosthuizen is now expected to intervene to find a solution to the impasse between CSA and SASCOC," he added. PTI