Cricket South Africa did not act unilaterally: SACA chief Tony Irish

Cricket South Africa (CSA) did not act unilaterally when it announced the schedule for an extended tour by India later this year that is now under threat of being shortened by the BCCI, according to South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA). “My understanding is that CSA went through the same process of agreeing the India tour schedule as they always do with the BCCI,” SACA chief executive Tony Irish said. “The Boards engaged over a period; there were a number of revisions to the schedule and they got it to a final version, which CSA understood it could then release. It was not a case of CSA simply acting unilaterally,” Irish was quoted as saying by daily ‘Business Day’. [caption id=“attachment_1103315” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Former chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Haroon Lorgat. Reuters[/caption] CSA earlier announced three Tests, seven ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals as part of the tour from November to January. But, the BCCI last week announced a plan which would effectively shorten the South African tour from 60 to 43 days, resulting in fewer matches. BCCI has claimed that it was not consulted by the CSA about the schedule. But, the CSA has refused to confirm or deny this. At the heart of the issue is the alleged dissatisfaction among BCCI bosses about former International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat being appointed to the position of CSA chief executive despite opposition from the Indian Board. PTI