CSA drops investigation into Smith, Boucher appointments

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is unlikely to proceed with its investigation into the appointments of Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher as CSA's director of cricket (DOC) and senior men's team's head coach respectively, CSA board chair Lawson Naidoo said on Tuesday. 

Speaking to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Naidoo said that the Board cannot proceed with the investigation as the decision to appoint the duo was okayed by the previous board.

"The DOC and head coach were appointed in December 2019 under the previous board. It is clear from the (SJN) report that there were irregularities in those processes. Those appointments were subsequently endorsed and ratified by the then board. Our hands are tied in terms of those processes," Naidoo said.

Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report said that the appointment process of Smith as the DOC is flawed after he pulled out of the job contention after being interviewed in August 2019 and was appointed in interim capacity in December of that year. At that time, Smith said he opted out as he lacked confidence in CSA's hierarchy.

SJN report also found fault with Boucher being appointed as the head coach of the senior men's team ahead of the then interim team director Enoch Nkwe and called it unfair discrimination.

Boucher will face disciplinary hearing for the allegations made in the SJN report by former South Africa spinner Paul Adams for using derogatory nicknames in the dressing room. In January, the hearing was postponed to May 16-20 as Boucher intends to call players involved in the national set-up to testify on his behalf.