Proteas coach Mark Boucher is apparently “reluctant” to call Proteas players as witnesses when his disciplinary hearing begins on 16 May.

The onus is on Cricket South Africa to prove Boucher guilty and, according to Rapport newspaper, the chances of CSA’s two key witnesses, Enoch Nkwe and Paul Adams, agreeing to testify are slim.

That means Boucher may not need to call on players to testify. He reportedly does not want to put the players in an awkward position or expose them to severe cross-examination by CSA’s lawyers.

The 45-year-old has been charged with “gross misconduct” by CSA following allegations of racism made against him by former teammate Adams during last year’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings.

Nkwe’s resignation as assistant coach in August last year will also be addressed during the disciplinary hearing.