Buzz: 'Internal agendas within CSA a cancer'

Former captain and Cricket South Africa director of cricket (DOC) Graeme Smith has said that there were "internal agendas" at play within the organisation, which have become a "cancer".

Smith hinted that actions of a few people at senior positions have brought disrepute to the organisation and said media "leaks" have contributed to the current internal problems.

"I think it's been a cancer from within the organisation for a while and it's not getting any better," he was quoted as saying by a news24.com report.

"You try and work out who in senior positions in this organisation is doing this, and why? What is the end goal? Is it serving cricket? It's quite clearly someone in a high-profile position, whether it is in the business part or the board part, because some of the stuff being leaked can only be from those parties within the organisation," he said.

The former opening batsman joined as DOC in December last year following the suspension of CEO Thabang Moroe and has since signed a two-year deal with the option of extending for a third term.

The 39-year-old Smith, who scored 9265 runs from 117 Tests between 2002 and 2014, said he "certainly does feel that there are people within these positions who have ulterior motives."

The report also quoted CSA president Chris Nenzani as saying that "he was aware of certain individuals leaking information to the media" and "this has been a problem within the organisation for a period of around 18 months."

"It has affected a lot of people. I have previously raised my own unhappiness on this issue with the board," he said.

Smith said that the controversy surrounding his appointment as DOC and his staff, including head coach Mark Boucher, was unfair.

"CSA courted me for a while, I went through the same interview process as everybody else in getting the job. I got involved because I have got cricket at heart and to be part of the solution. I want to help create a strong CSA," he said in a CSA release.

"I think the narrative is really unfair. I was appointed by a really vigorous process and didn't go and appoint myself. I've made it clear why I got involved."

Talking about the appointments he made after taking charge, he said, "I made a number of appointments in December, not only Mark Boucher. I brought in permanent staff like the team manager Volvo (Masubelele), Justin Ontong, Charl Langeveldt, Enoch Nkwe and the medical staff.

"The appointment of Paul Harris was around Keshav Maharaj requesting to work with him for one series. Jacques Kallis hasn't been on the payroll of Cricket South Africa for many months, he worked on an interim basis and it is important to clarify that those appointments were not permanent.”

Smith also supported the recently approved Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) Concept proposed by the CSA Transformation Committee and approved by the Board, which stemmed from the discussions generated by the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

Proteas fast bowler Lungisani Ngidi took the lead on the BLM campaign, with subsequent events triggering many allegations of racial discrimination in cricket from former players such as Makhaya Ntini.

"I fully support the Social Justice programme. I think the initial thing is to listen internally within the current Proteas set-up and, in the build-up to the Solidarity Cup, that's exactly what happened," Smith said.

Ireland pacer reprimanded for using 'inappropriate' language against Bairstow

Ireland fast bowler Josh Little has been reprimanded for using "inappropriate" language against Jonny Bairstow during the second ODI against England in Southampton.

Little breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match".

It was a Level 1 breach.

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Little, for whom it was the first offence in a period of 24 months.

"The incident occurred in the 16th over of England's innings, when Little used inappropriate language towards Jonny Bairstow upon his dismissal.

Little admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Phil Whitticase and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing," said the ICC in a statement.

On-field umpires David Millns and Alex Wharf, third umpire Mike Burns and fourth official Martin Saggers levelled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.

MCA member seeks naming of Wankhede stadium blocks after Vengsarkar

Mumbai Cricket Association Apex Council member Nadim Memon has demanded that three blocks of the north stand at the Wankhede Stadium here be named after former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar.

"My proposal (to) name north-stand A,B,C blocks in the name of Dilip Vengsarkar our Mumbaikar Cricketer, played for India in 116 test matches and captain, played for Mumbai in all first class matches...," Memon wrote in an e-mail sent to MCA President Vijay Patil and all Apex Council members.

"It will be an honour and respect to the cricketer of Mumbai," added Memon, also a noted curator.

Currently, two stands of the Wankhede Stadium are named after batting greats Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, who have represented Mumbai in domestic cricket.

Memon urged his colleagues to approve his proposal at the next Apex Council meeting.

The 64-year-old Vengsarkar, a batting stalwart and a former Chairman of Selection Committee, had also served as vice-president of MCA. He played 116 Tests between 1976 and 1992.