Morena Mothupi
South Africa is still savouring the triumph over India in the Test and One Day International series.
The Proteas were too good for the South Asian nation, winning the Tests 2-1 and the ODIs 3-0.
All of this happened with the dark cloud caused by the Social Justice and Nation-building Project interim report hanging over local cricket.
After the first ODI, head coach Mark Boucher was charged with gross misconduct and bringing Cricket South Africa into disrepute, through historical and current handling of racial issues.
His handling of former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe as well as his appointment to the top job is under much scrutiny.
Boucher will have a chance to fight for his job at a disciplinary hearing, which will be chaired by senior counsel Advocate Terry Motau.
CSA released a statement, confirming the charges against the coach.
“CSA confirms that a charge sheet, containing both the disciplinary charges against Mr Boucher, as well as his rights, was provided to him on 17 January. The upcoming inquiry will also consider concerns and allegations that arose following the resignation of former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe.
“While Mr Boucher is being charged with gross misconduct, which could lead to his dismissal, CSA emphasises it is important that the independent inquiry first needs to test all allegations before any question of sanction can arise.”
The process is expected to take months, which means Boucher will likely still be at the helm of the national side.
The Proteas will be heading Down Under, to face ICC World Test Championship winners New Zealand in a two-match Test series.
There have been calls for the former South African wicketkeeper to be sacked, and one such person making that call is the former president of the South African Cricketers Association, Omphile Ramela
“His record speaks for itself, I think he’s someone who’s got racial allegations hanging over him and I think barring the series and probably the last four games of the World Cup, the Proteas haven’t really done well under his tenure. So, I think that record speaks for itself and I think we don’t need to have someone who does not embody what South Africa is about, in terms of discipline and this non-racial approach that we’ve adopted as a country. So I think it’s important CSA tries to appoint people who have the necessary integrity, whom the country can look at and feel represented” , says Ramela.
Recent media reports have suggested that Boucher will have the best legal representation for this fight against the national association, with millionaires reportedly set to bankroll the coach.
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