CSA to meet as crisis threatens to plunge cricket into an amateur sport
The embattled CSA is hanging by the thread as it races against time to adopt an amended Constitution before its rights and privileges are stripped.
The members' council of Cricket South Africa (CSA) is set to meet on Saturday afternoon to adopt an adapted Constitution.
A small minority, said to be driven by self-interests, dug in their heels and refused to implement a new memorandum of incorporation.
If a 75% majority is obtained, the cricket governing body will have more independent directors, as well as an independent chair.
Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa is yet to Gazette his decision to intervene under Section 13 of the National Sport and Recreation Act.
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CSA will lose its government funding and national recognition and will be expelled as a member of International Cricket Council (ICC) if he does indeed do so.
Sponsors are set to withdraw, broadcasting licences will be void, and players would have to look for greener pastures elsewhere if the recognition of CSA is pulled.
"Once the money starts drying up, its people's livelihoods, they will have to cut stuff," says cricket analyst Ken Borland.
South Africa usually publishes its Government Gazette on Fridays, which means CSA has mere days to adopt the memorandum of incorporation.
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"We will not have a professional cricket program in South Africa, cricket will become an amateur sport," says Borland.
"You'd see a lot of players leaving as well. It would be an absolute disaster for the sport."