We must fix CSA from the top: Faul

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 20, during the Cricket SA media briefing at Selborne Country Estate on June 20, 2012 in Durban, South Africa Photo by Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 20, during the Cricket SA media briefing at Selborne Country Estate on June 20, 2012 in Durban, South Africa Photo by Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images

Published Oct 30, 2012

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Johannesburg - Fixing the top administrative structures of South African cricket is important to ensure the national team stays competitive on the field, Cricket SA (CSA) acting CEO Jacques Faul said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of the One-day Cup competition in Johannesburg, Faul was bullish about the Proteas' future prospects, and promised governance issues were being dealt with.

“I think rightly so, in the media, we've been criticised for not getting it right when it comes to governing structures and that pressure is on us,” he said. “But I promise you we will fix it.”

He said while CSA was dealing with ongoing problems off the field, it should not take away from the fine work being done elsewhere for the benefit of the game.

The Proteas' strength, and the Highveld Lions and Titans' performances in the Champions League T20 tournament, were examples of how certain structures within the sport were working.

“Whenever we read the papers or we see media reports, it actually sketches a picture that cricket's not great at this stage,” Faul said. “We've got ourselves to blame for it but how can it be that you still do so well?

“It's a simple answer: We've got a lot of good people in cricket on an operational level.

“We've got to fix the top and sort it out, but we've also got to acknowledge that we cannot all be painted with the same brush if you're in cricket.”

Faul said South Africans were driven to win on the sports field because they were inherently competitive.

“We're not one of those countries where you go up to a World Cup and come back and say, 'Yeah, we actually made the semis',” he said.

“That's not good enough for South African sports people and that makes us competitive.”

This year's One-day Cup will see the introduction of rule changes made by the International Cricket Council which took effect on Tuesday.

Powerplays have been reduced to two blocks from three, and another change allows bowlers to send down two bouncers an over instead of the previous one.

The competition starts on Friday, with the Titans taking on the Highveld Lions in Centurion.

Sapa

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