Nathi Mthethwa., Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams)
Sports Ministry casts doubt over cricket’s planned return
Cricket South Africa had planned to stage its first fixture later this month.
Nathi Mthethwa., Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams)
The anticipated return of live cricket has been thrown into turmoil, with the Sports Ministry not approving the Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) plans for a 27 June start.
The association had planned to hold a made-for-TV event, the Solidarity Cup – an innovative tournament featuring three teams of eight competing in a single game in the experimental 3Team (3T) Cricket.
Sports Ministry makes about-turn on cricket’s return
This is after cricket, along with other non-contact sports, had been given the green light to return to action under Level 3 lockdown, provided that certain safety precautions are adhered to.
However, this will not be the case just yet, following a meeting between CSA bigwigs and the Parliamentary Sports Portfolio committee on Friday.
Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who headed the meeting told the CSA delegation – which consisted of its president Chris Nenzani, his deputy, Beresford Williams and acting chief executive Dr Jacques Faul – that the request to stage the tournament was yet to be approved.
“You did come to us and cricket has been working very well with us‚ but while your request for June 27 has been processed‚ it hasn’t been approved‚” Mthethwa said.
“There are things we need to do and there are ongoing consultations with the Department of Health. People are being tested and we would want the details of that if there’s an indication of any player who has tested positive.
“We are still processing it‚ so it mustn’t be put as if it is approved because it will pass here if it is approved.”
Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture
There has been no live cricket action in South Africa since early March, when the domestic season came to a premature end, while the men’s senior national team had to be recalled from their limited-overs tour in India.
The planned match was to feature players contracted by CSA, as well as a few fringe players and include the likes of AB de Villiers and Chris Morris, who were not part of the recent contracts list.
It is scheduled to take place at Supersport Park in Centurion, broadcast on pay channel, Supersport 2 (SS2).
