CSA planning to send Lorgat on leave to please BCCI?

Bowing to pressure from the BCCI, Cricket South Africa is likely to keep its CEO Haroon Lorgat out of any future engagement with the Indian Board to ensure that the marquee tour by India goes ahead without any further hiccups.

The series has already been curtailed after BCCI took exception to the CSA's "unilateral" announcement of the itinerary in July.

CSA, desperate to cut down the financial loss that it would incur if the series does not go through, has offered to "send Lorgat on long leave", Cricinfo has reported.

According to the report, during the "fruitful" discussion between the BCCI and CSA on October 12, the Indian Board had agreed to play two Tests and three ODIs in the month of December on the condition that "CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat is not involved in India affairs in future".

"It is also understood that CSA has also informed the BCCI bosses that they would be working out a plan before the end of the tour to ensure Lorgat is not involved in future dealings with the BCCI," the report stated.

If that happens, the BCCI could agree to play a three-Test series as requested by CSA.

The BCCI had a rather rocky equation with Lorgat during his stint as ICC CEO and was reportedly upset when CSA hired him earlier this year.

Image: Haroon Lorgat

Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters