Cricket SA close to deal with Graeme Smith for full-time job

Acting CEO Jacques Faul says Cricket SA are close to concluding negotiations for hiring acting director of cricket Graeme Smith on a permanent basis.

Faul said Smith's involvement with the Indian Premier League (IPL)‚ which has also been affected by the coronavirus pandemic‚ was not going to affect his employment at Cricket SA.

Smith had taken on the job as acting director of Cricket SA on a part-time basis as he also had IPL commentary duties that demanded his time. The IPL was supposed to start on March 29 but has been pushed back to April 15.

“We’re in final negotiations with Graeme Smith and we’re looking to make a decision next week. I don’t think the Indian Premier League has an influence in any way.

“There are other considerations‚ but we’re at an advanced stage of the negotiations. Hopefully‚ we can make an announcement next week‚” Faul said.

“We can confirm that there’ll be an MSL [Mzansi Super League] edition in 2020‚ but we still have to sign the final contracts. We can’t give too much detail from that perspective though.” 

Faul said he could not comment on whether he was going to take up the CEO position on a full-time basis as it would raise ethical questions. Cricket SA’s full-time CEO Thabang Moroe was suspended in December pending an investigation.

“As long as the current CEO position hasn’t been solved‚ anything that indicates that I’m the permanent CEO or even looks to be the permanent CEO can be interpreted as constructive dismissal‚” Faul said.

“I’ve put up my hand and I’m still helping. We’ve also been negotiating with a title sponsor to take over from Standard Bank and at this stage‚ they’re not coming back.”

With the domestic system remaining with six franchise teams‚ albeit with lesser matches in the 4-Day Franchise Series and the Momentum One-Day Cup‚ Faul said the steering committee, chaired by former Proteas wicketkeeper and former International Cricket Council CEO David Richardson, will complete its work in June.

“The final recommendations haven’t been done. They’ll only be completed in June. The committee had to deal with the very next season. As we announced‚ there would be fewer matches while the teams remained the same‚” Faul said.

“The member’s council rescinded its decision in terms of moving back to the 12 teams. Post this season‚ the committee is still consulting with various stakeholders. They haven’t come up with a full post-2021 plan.”