After a long tussle between parties and an ultimatum by Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa, the Cricket South Africa members’ council has finally accepted the recommendation of a majority independent board.

After initially rejecting the proposal as per the 2012 Nicholson report, the members’ council agreed to the changes, which also includes an independent chairperson.

The minister gave the council until Friday evening to adopt the proposal, which will hopefully lead to a more structured permanent board.

A statement by the minister on Saturday morning read that the interim board, the members’ council and the minister finally settled on the changes after the council reconsidered its initial rejection.

The formal amendment of CSA’s Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) can now be established within the organisation.

CSA also welcomed the outcome from what has been a long battle of governance to introduce a majority independent board.

‘This is a landmark moment for South African cricket administration,’ said interim board chair Stavros Nicolaou.

‘It lays a solid foundation for transparent and sound governance in the future.  It is 9 years since the Nicholson Report recommended a majority independent Board and the moment has finally been seized to make a clean break with the past. It is a step in the direction of transparent, innovative and best practice governance for cricket.

‘A new Board, comprised of individuals with a balance of skill, cricketing knowledge and the ability to ensure accountability, is required to administer the modern game. It is hoped, too, that this new governance structure will lay a foundation for on-field success and restore public faith in the administration of the game.’