Cricket South Africa to investigate Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher over racism accusations

In the latest development, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided to investigate the racism allegations on the director of cricket Graeme Smith and the national men’s team head coach Mark Boucher after reviewing the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report.

The formal inquiry will take place early in 2022 and will be conducted by independent legal professionals. However, both Smith and Boucher will remain in their positions and carry out their duties for the upcoming series against India, starting on December 26.

Not to mention, the SJN report, which came out last week, made findings that Smith, Boucher and former batter AB de Villiers, amongst others, had engaged in conduct that was discriminatory on the basis of race.

“The Board has decided to institute formal enquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report. The Board has done so mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s labour legislation and the Constitution,” a CSA statement read.

“The formal inquiries will be conducted by independent legal professionals. Further details with regards to the inquiries will be announced in due course. Smith and Boucher remain in their positions and will continue to carry out their duties during the India tour,” the statement added.

Notably, Smith was accused of not giving fair chances to former wicketkeeper-batter Thami Tsolekile after an eye injury ended Boucher’s career in July 2012. Tsolekile had alleged that he was identified as Boucher’s successor but was sidelined after De Villiers was given preference over him as the Test wicket-keeper.

Although, Smith had denied such allegations stating Tsolekile was communicated on both the England and Australian tours by Gary Kirsten that he was in the squad as reserve keeper to De Villiers, not as a successor of Boucher.

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December 21, 2021 at 11:57AM