CSA back Majola against critics
2009-07-10 15:21
Johannesburg - Cricket South Africa's Members Forum, comprising CSA's Affiliates, Friday "rejected with contempt" complaints made by the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) against CSA's CEO, Gerald Majola, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the organisers of the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) over their handling of the tournament in South Africa.
A meeting of the CSA Members Forum was called by CSA President, Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka, to allow Majola to present a high level overview of the tournament and to discuss GCB's complaints.
Nyoka said in a statement issued after the meeting: "The CSA Members Forum unanimously accepted the high level overview from Mr Majola and congratulated him on outstanding work in obtaining and successfully hosting such a prestigious tournament at such short notice.
"The Members Forum gave a full vote of confidence in him.
"The Forum rejected with contempt the allegations of mismanagement against Mr Majola, the BCCI and IPL which were made to CSA by the Gauteng Cricket Board.
"The Forum has asked the GCB to unconditionally withdraw these allegations and apologise to CSA's President and CEO as well as to CSA as a whole and the BCCI.
"The Forum has asked the GCB to indicate what their conditions are for hosting international matches at the Wanderers Stadium under the auspices of CSA.
"Until both the apology and the hosting conditions are submitted, there will be no international matches staged at the Wanderers Stadium under the auspices of CSA.
"This will not have a bearing on the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa in September as this is an ICC event."
Dr Nyoka said Majola's overview showed that CSA, the hosting Affiliates and South Africa had benefitted handsomely across the board from hosting the tournament.
"CSA was due to receive a $3-million hosting fee, but Mr Majola negotiated R30-million fee, a sum of R6-million more than the current exchange on $3-million.
"The IPL also agreed to increase its contractual liability from R125k per match day to R125k per match, giving those who hosted double-headers extra revenue," Dr Nyoka said.
"Stadia hosting fees will total a clear-profit R7.4million. IPL will play all extra costs, including the cost of relocating suite holders and the "public thank you" advertisements placed by CSA after the tournament. The IPL has also donated R7.5-million to South African school bursary funds.
"The IPL has reported that the total spend on the tournament was R1.7-billion, it generated 25 000 hotel room nights and 6 000 flights.
"It had a global television audience with ratings an impressive 11% higher than the inaugural event in India last year. "More than 800 000 people watched the 59 games at the eight stadia in South Africa's major centres.
"The tournament was a resounding success acclaimed throughout the international sporting world and was a big boost for South Africa ahead of the FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup.
"The only negative to come out of this has been the unacceptable behaviour of the Gauteng Cricket Board both during and after the tournament", Nyoka said.
- SAPA