Indian cricket board unhappy over Lorgat’s appointment
New Delhi: Team India’s proposed tour to South Africa later this year appears to be in jeopardy following BCCI’s reservations against the appointment of Haroon Lorgat as the CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA).
The former ICC CEO, is among the three contenders short-listed by CSA for the post and technically the favourite given his administrative experience in international cricket but the BCCI’s opposition could go against him.
Miffed with the news BCCI, which did not have the best of equations with Lorgat during his ICC stint, has apparently threatened to pull out of the upcoming tour, according to sources.
However, no BCCI official in India was willing to speak openly on the issue, but a top Board functionary said BCCI would prefer if Lorgat was not selected for the post.
Some of the other contenders for the job are Bheki Shongwe, MD of Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa’s current football champions, university professor Denver Hendricks and head of Kagiso media Murphy Morobe.
But given that none of them have any experience of cricket administration, makes Lorgat a strong contender if not for the BCCI’s opposition.
Earlier, the BCCI also expressed its displeasure with the itinerary of the upcoming series. The board’s interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said the gaps between some matches in the itinerary were not sufficient and hence would be reworked.
There is a two-day break between the first and second Test and eight days between second and third. The Indian board is reportedly also unhappy with a seven-match ODI series, which it reckons is too long.
Cricket South Africa, however, did not take much time to state that any disagreement over the dates of matches on India`s tour starting in November will be dealt with in the normal amicable manner between the two national bodies. South Africa`s cricket body says its Indian counterpart is “welcome to raise any issues” it has over the schedule for their upcoming series. (PTI)