Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday named Beresford Williams as its acting president besides confirming that interim Chief Executive Officer Jacques Faul has stepped down from his position. The recent developments came after Chris Nenzani, who was president since 2013 resigned on August 15 with immediate effect.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) which is an affiliate of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is the national governing body for cricket in South Africa and a regulatory body for both men and women cricketers participating in domestic and international cricket.
It initially operated under the name of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) which came into existence on 29 June 1991, following completion of the unity process between the South African Cricket Union (SACU) and the South African Cricket Board (SACB).
CSA was formed in 2002 and ran parallel to UCB, with the UCB responsible for the administration of amateur cricket and CSA responsible for professional cricket. Later UCB was amalgamated into CSA in 2008.
Cricket South Africa’s Acting President Will Be Beresford Williams After CEO Jacques Faul Steps Down
Beresford Williams will serve as president until the board’s annual general meeting scheduled for September 5. According to several reports, Beresford Williams has been an administrator for more than 25 years and even was the president of the Western Province Cricket Association before joining CSA.
“The Members’ Council has announced that Beresford Williams will fill the role of acting President until the AGM set for the 5th of September 2020,” CSA said in a statement.
As per the statement, Jacques Faul, whose tenure was due to end on September 15, has resigned from his post. He was appointed in December 2019 after the board had suspended its then chief executive officer Thabang Moroe amid allegations of misconduct.
“Further, the Board advises that Acting CEO, Dr Jacques Faul, has decided to end his secondment with immediate effect, which secondment was due to terminate on the 15 of September 2020,” the statement read.
“Dr Faul has put in place a detail transitional plan that will ensure the organisation makes a seamless transition to a new Acting CEO, that the Board will advise on shortly. The Board is for ever grateful for the outstanding commitment and leadership that Dr Faul has made and continues to make to CSA and the game of cricket,” it added.
CSA is currently in a state of chaos after several high-profile departures. ESPNcricinfo reported that Chris Nenzani, who served a turbulent seven-year reign that was marred by allegations of corruption, resigned hours after CSA fired its COO Nassei Appiah.
Cricket South Africa’s Director Of Cricket Graeme Smith May Put South Africa Back In Reckoning
South Africa’s performance has also been not met the standard for some time around. South Africa had a forgettable campaign at the 2019 World Cup and were thrashed by India in an away Test series. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who is serving as CSA director of cricket till March 2022, is expected to put South African cricket back on track.
Graeme Smith who became South Africa’s youngest skipper at the age of 22 is currently 39 years of age having last played for South Africa in 2014 appearing in 117 test and 197 ODIs besides 33 T20Is. He is regarded as one of the best test match openers ever having scored 9,265 runs at a remarkable average of 48.25.
Smith scored 27 Test and 10 ODI centuries. He is also the most successful test captain in history with 53 test wins. No other captain has more than 50 Test wins. Ricky Ponting of Australia though comes second with 48 test wins.