CSA member council takes a U-turn, appoints interim board ahead of England series

Johannesburg, November 18: Cricket South Africa's member council on Tuesday (November 17) made a U-turn and appointed the nine-member interim board ahead of the much-anticipated England series, just days after rejecting it citing technicalities in terms of CSA's Memorandum of Incorporation.

"Acting President of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Rihan Richards today confirmed that the Members' Council of CSA has appointed the Interim Board in terms of the CSA Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI), with a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities for the immediate future of CSA," the board said in a statement.

"The appointment follows a frank, honest and constructive engagement held between representatives from the Members' Council and the Interim Board. Everyone agreed on the way forward and to collaborate, strictly in accordance with the relevant legal framework."

The interim board, which was appointed by Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa, will run the administrative body for the next kthree months.

The board, which also includes former CSA chief Haroon Lorgat, had been dismissed by the member council last week, triggering a threat of derecognition of CSA by Mthethwa.

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With the appointment of the interim board, Richards described it as a step in the "right direction".

"In the spirit of the CSA vision, the Members' Council considers the engagements with the Interim Board on the way forward, a leap in the right direction and anticipates cricket to be the winner as a result," he said.

The board will be chaired by Judge Zak Yaqoob, and includes seasoned administrator Andre Odendaal, Omphile Ramela, Stavros Nikalo, Andile Dawn Mbatha, Xolani Vonya and Nkeko Caroline Mampuru, besides Judith and Lorgat.

"The Interim Board regards this as a positive step and looks forward to work together to achieving the desired results," Judith said.

CSA member council's refusal to recognise the interim board had earlier thrown England's upcoming white-ball tour in jeopardy.

The England team has reached South Africa for three T20Is, starting November 27, followed by as many ODIs from December 4 to 9.