UCB backs captain and coaches as SA cricket tries to mend fences

South African captain Shaun Pollock and coaches Graham Ford and Corrie van Zyl have received the full backing of the United Cricket Board despite the furore that has enveloped South African cricket since the start of the third Test against Australia in Sydney.

In a statement issued by the UCB executive committee issued after its meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday, "The UCBSA would like to express its support for and confidence in the coaching team of Graham Ford and Corrie van Zyl, as well as in captain Shaun Pollock. All three have contracts with the UCBSA until after the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa and the UCB is satisfied that they are performing according to those contracts."

The statement is a clear response to reports at the weekend in which controversial UCB president Percy Sonn appeared to suggest that Ford's position was in jeopardy following the 3-0 Test series defeat against Australia. Sonn, who arrived back in South Africa on Monday, attended the meeting which was addressed by South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour and which followed a week of bitter acrimony after Sonn had intervened to force the inclusion of Justin Ontong in the third Test team at the expense of Jacques Rudolph.

The statement confirms Sonn's prerogative as UCB president to have the final say on the selection of the South African side, but, in an obvious attempt to mend some of the fences broken during the past week "acknowledges that it (the UCB) has not always made its policies clear to the public and regrets if this interfered in any way with the national team's preparation or performance during their tour to Australia. All policies and procedures are currently being outlined in full for the use of everyone in South African cricket."

The tone and wording of the statement strongly suggests that the UCB has been shaken by the furious row that has torn South African cricket apart during the past week and which threatens to split the game along racial lines, little more than 10 years after unification was achieved following the demise of apartheid.

The statement also offers an olive branch to former South African players who "may feel neglected by the system of cricket administration in South Africa. The UCB would like to reassure former players who feel they have South African cricket at heart that the UCB values their expertise and experience and invites them to make a contribution to South African cricket in a positive manner. If there are issues - particularly around transformation - that these former players do not fully understand, the UCB would be happy to engage them in discussions."

A number of former South African players, including Clive Rice, Pat Symcox and Fanie de Villiers, have been accused of still living in the apartheid era by, among others, a spokesman for the Department of Sport, after criticising the Ontong selection as well as the general administration of South African cricket.

The crisis, by some distance, is the most serious to have gripped the game in this country since readmission. It has been brewing for some time, with suspicions existing of hidden agendas and a rift emerging between the South Africa's players and the sport's administration.

While the national team was winning, however, few dissenting voices were heard. The defeat against Australia, however, acted as the catalyst for the unleashing of a torrent of recrimination.

The question of South Africa's position regarding banned former captain Hansie Crone is also dealt with unequivocally following remarks by Sonn in Australia which were interpreted as suggesting the UCB might be prepared to reconsider the ban.

"The UCBSA would like to reiterate its position that former captain Hansie Cronje has been banned for life by the General Council of the UCBSA. This decision has been upheld by the High Court of South Africa and endorsed by the International Cricket Council. There is no intention to reverse this decision and the UCBSA now considers the matter closed."