Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa is furious with Cricket South Africa’s members’ council for rejecting the Nicholson report suggestion of a more independent board.

The members’ council and current interim board met a few times last week to discuss and vote on the proposal of establishing a permanent board comprising seven non-independent and four independent directors, led by a completely independent chairperson.

According to Netwerk24, however, it seems Mthethwa is not very happy with the outcome of that vote and this could lead to strong actions against the organisation as a whole.

‘I don’t think the minister is very happy,’ said current interim board chairperson Stravos Nicolaou.

‘The members’ council is making a mockery of the mandate that the minister has given us. The minister has possible steps that he can take and it is not going to be very pleasant. It is also not something that the public will like but the members’ council should be the ones to blame. The members’ council is letting the whole country down.’

Mthethwa has the power to intervene with the organisation but that could lead the severe consequences for South African cricket. Political interference is against the ICC’s code of conduct and could lead to suspension of the Proteas as an ICC member.

‘There is a fundamental principle in the Nicholson report and that is that a majority of independent members the permanent board should serve. There can’t be any grey areas around that. It is a worldwide management occurrence.

‘Their refusal to accept that principle shows you that they are not invested in solving the problems. They want to continue with the current failures, which led to the problems cricket currently finds itself in,’ added Nicolaou.