Graeme Smith, South Africa’s director of cricket, urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pursue a “strong lead” after Australia postponed their Test tour to South Africa over Kovid’s concerns.
Cricket South Africa cricket Graeme Smith on Monday called on the International Cricket Council to show leadership to prevent India, England, and Australia from dominating the game. Smith said in a virtual press conference that the relationship between Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia is definitely tense at this level “Australia’s decision to withdraw from the three-Test tour of South Africa due to concerns about Kovid-19 after.”
Smith was asked about CSA’s decision to describe Australia’s decision to the ICC as “against the spirit of the game” and implication for the credibility of the ICC World Test Championship.
“More than anything, the ICC now needs strong leadership,” Smith said. “I believe Kovid is growing Haves and its-not-relationships across the board and how the future scenario is being handled.”
Smith said that India, England, and Australia dominated the future calendar of cricket.
“This is extremely challenging for the rest of the member countries,” he said.
“The game needs leadership right now,” Smith said. “It needs to understand the complexities. I don’t think that in three years time of world cricket, three nations want to compete against each other.”
The former Test captain said that the domination of the three major nations increased the likelihood of Twenty20 leagues becoming “bigger and bigger”, leaving a less cricketing nation with less lucrative affiliations.
He said, “I think it’s been fast tracked because of Kovid. These issues are becoming more and more relevant and growing. I think the ICC found itself a bit off.”
Monday’s press conference called for details of the rest of South Africa’s season, which would conclude with the recently announced white-ball tour by Pakistan in April.
The Pakistan tour will provide another headache for the CSA as it will likely clash with the lucrative Indian Premier League, expected to be held in early April.
Several South African star players, including Cagiso Rabada, Quinton de Cock, Faf du Plessis, and Enrique Norje, are contracted by IPL teams as well as CSA.
He said that the CSA was awaiting the dates for the IPL final.
He said there would be internal discussion in the “coming days” after the South African team management returned from the Pakistan tour, which concluded on Sunday.
