Four-member delegation of ‘Cricket South Africa’ arrives in Islamabad
Four-member delegation of ‘Cricket South Africa’ arrives in Islamabad
By;Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad: A South African cricket delegation has arrived in Pakistan to review arrangements for upcoming series against Pakistan. According to details; a four-member delegation of Cricket South Africa (CSA) has arrived in Islamabad to review security arrangements ahead of South Africa’s proposed tour to Pakistan.The delegation headed by CSA’s Cricket Operation Manager Mike Gajjar also includes South Africa Players Association representative Stephen Craig Cook, CSA’s security consultant Rory Steyn and South Africa’s team security manager Mohamed Zunaid Wadee. The four-member team underwent corona virus tests upon their arrival in Islamabad and will start activities in Islamabad after tests are negative.During stay in Rawalpindi, representatives of the African cricket board will also watch match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa are holding talks regarding proposed series scheduled to be held next year.
The delegation will review various aspects of the South African team’s visit to Pakistan. After observation and review, the delegation will submit its report to Cricket South Africa for final decision.
The South African team is scheduled to visit Pakistan in early 2021, with first Test planned in Karachi from January 26.The Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Tuesday to send a security assessment delegation to Pakistan this weekend with a view to playing in the country in early 2021.
If the tour goes ahead it will be South Africa’s first visit to Pakistan since 2007/08.
Two subsequent “away” tours were staged in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns following a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
According to the International Cricket Council’s future tours programme, South Africa are due to play in two world Test championship matches as well as three Twenty20 internationals in January and February.The first Test will be in Centurion from December 26 to 30 and the second Test will be in Johannesburg from January 3 to 7. It is pertinent mentioned here that the entire board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) has resigned ahead of a government-imposed deadline for it to co-operate in an investigation of misconduct within the sport’s national governing body. The acting president and a group of board members resigned at a meeting Sunday and the remainder stepped down, Cricket South Africa said. Three board members will stay in their roles temporarily “to ensure the continuity and stability of the organisation,” CSA said.It’s unclear how a new board will operate in the short-term but the South African sports ministry and the national Olympic committee wants to appoint a team to investigate the allegations.CSA fired its CEO for serious misconduct in August but refused to make the results of an investigation of him public. It also refused to allow the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, an umbrella body for sports in South Africa, to conduct their own investigation.
That prompted the sports ministry to become involved. It gave CSA a week to co-operate or the government would intervene. Government intervention would put South Africa at risk of being banned from international cricket by the sport’s global governing body.
Six ‘non-independent’ board members — elected from cricket structures — were also part of the members’ council.
CSA president Beresford Williams resigned from both bodies but the other four non-independent board members who resigned on Sunday said they would remain part of the members’ council.
All three of the directors who will remain in place until the formation of an interim board are non-independent directors — Zola Thamae, John Mogodi and Donovan May.After the CSA’s entire board resigned , acting chief executive Kugandrie Govender said the matches against Sri Lanka, like those for the upcoming white-ball series against England, would be played without spectators because of Covid-19 restrictions.On their previous visit to South Africa in 2018-19, Sri Lanka gained an upset 2-0 series win — the first by an Asian team in a Test series in South Africa.CSA also announced Australia would visit South Africa for three world Test championship matches in March and April 2021, to be followed by Pakistan, who will play three one-day internationals and three T20 internationals. Dates for these tours will be announced later.It was previously announced South Africa will host England in three T20 and three one-day internationals in Cape Town and Paarl between November 27 and December 9.The South African men’s team has not been in action since a one-day tour of India was called off because of the corona virus pandemic in March.
asgharalimubarakblog 