Player revolt in SA cricket?
2008-02-07 22:00
Johannesburg - Some members of the national cricket team are allegedly threatening to withdraw from the tour of Bangladesh if disciplinary steps are taken against their coach.
South African cricket faces a serious rift as a result of a crisis caused by alleged interference in team selections by leading administrator Norman Arendse.
Arendse, chairperson of SA Cricket, and Proteas coach Mickey Arthur are on a collision course. It seems there is not enough room for both men in SA cricket. One of them will have to go.
Arendse has threatened to get rid of Arthur. The coach, in turn, said on Thursday he had obtained legal advice over an "insulting" email message from Arendse.
Arthur says some players may pull out of the tour of Bangladesh if Cricket SA take disciplinary measures against him. He believes he has the full support of the players.
Arthur and Arendse have been at loggerheads about the composition of the SA team to tour Bangladesh later this month.
The team has not been announced, even though the players are scheduled to leave on Wednesday.
Arthur says he has asked for legal advice about an email message Arendse sent to him on Wednesday night.
Arendse said on Thursday Arthur's attitude had become unbearable and he should be hauled before a disciplinary committee.
Arthur responded by saying Arendse's continuous interference in team selections had gone too far.
"What's his problem?" Arthur asked. "We have a good, established team and with the exception of one match we have fielded four black players in every Test this season.
"I don't know where he gets the idea that there should be seven black players in the touring team."
'I told him he was power-crazy and egotistical'
Arthur confirmed that harsh words had been exchanged. "Yes, there is animosity between us. I told him he was power-crazy and egotistical but I never swore at him.
"I can say now that he regularly sends back teams," Arthur added.
This confirmed allegations that Arendse interfered with selections, as happened when the names of Jacques Kallis and Andrew Hall were removed from the initial list of players chosen for the Twenty20 World Cup tournament last year.
"I've taken him on about this team," Arthur said about the inclusion of Neil McKenzie and André Nel for the tour of Bangladesh. Arendse queried their selection.
"The transformation policy that Arendse wants to be applied does not exist," Arthur said. "He is out of bounds. I told him he was not a selector and should keep his nose out of team selections."
Arendse is said to have accused Arthur, in a complaint to Cricket SA, of insulting him and of not showing due respect.
He also said Arthur was cocking a snoot at his employer's policy of transformation. "The more questions I asked about transformation, the more he told me there was no transformation policy," he said.
Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket SA, said on Thursday night no charge had been laid.
He also said the issue of team selection could have been handled better.