Cricket South Africa (CSA) have dismissed reports that Independent Director Dheven Dharmalingam resigned after a directive from the Members’ Council as ‘inaccurate and inappropriate’.
CSA confirm meeting on Members’ Council
CSA have confirmed that their Members’ Council met on Thursday 22 October 2020 to ‘discuss various matters including what is in the best interest of cricket, as well as the organisation’.
According to a notice issued on cricket.co.za, the meeting was held to conduct an analysis of several scenarios that were put on the table by the Board, who met on Wednesday, 21 October 2020 to discuss the best way forward for the organisation and cricket.
Acting President Beresford Williams and the other board members who are also Members’ Council members reportedly recused themselves from the Members’ Council meeting in accordance with the CSA Code of Ethics, to allow for transparent and confidential discussions amongst the rest of the members to take place.
Dharmalingam has not resigned insists CSA
CSA asserts that no board members resigned on Thursday 22 October and that media reports claiming that Dharmalingam, had resigned, are inaccurate and inappropriate.
“The Members’ Council deliberated on the various proposals submitted by the Board. The Board had met prior and discussed various strategies that would best position CSA, one of these approaches was that if the Board would need to step down for the best interest of CSA, the Board would then do so as it would be for the greater good of South African cricket.
“Dheven Dharmalingam presented a letter to the Board of Directors indicating his willingness to step down, should the Members’ Council believe that it is in the best interest for cricket and the organisation as a whole,” says Rihan Richards, CSA Members’ Council member, who chaired the meeting in Williams’ absence.
“The story currently out there was not corroborated officially by CSA and we again appeal to the media or any other stakeholder who requires information, to contact us directly for accurate information. CSA will continue working with our various stakeholders as the oversight body to ensure cricket continues to receive the administrative support it needs to flourish in South Africa,” concludes Richards.
On the brink
The body did not comment on reports that the Members’ Council have asked the entire CSA board to step aside.
CSA have been given until Tuesday 27 October to provide the Minister of Sport, Art and Culture Nathi Mthethwa with compelling reasons he should not intervene in the federation.
