ENGLAND’S Boxing Day test against South Africa has been plunged into jeopardy after the hosts’ furious cricketers threatened to go on strike.
The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) have proposed the drastic measures amidst growing dismay at the country’s cricketing governing body.
South Africa and England are due to play the First Test of the series at Centurion later this month.
But the chaos engulfing Cricket South Africa (CSA) has placed that under threat.
SACA chief executive Tony Irish revealed the four-match Test series with England is “unlikely” to be affected by industrial action, but refused to rule it out.
Irish revealed: “We still have to discuss the principle of [industrial action].
“This is a very early stage of discussion and we will be very mindful of the importance of the international fixtures.
“It is unlikely those will be affected.
“We will be responsible around the international tours, because we know that those affect teams from outside of South Africa.”
LAST RESORT
Irish said any strike action will be a last resort, but added players have been left exasperated by CSA’s refusal to engage with them on a number of issues.
He added: “It is an exhaustion of all other means of trying to deal with issues.
“Agreements are breached, we raise concerns, we try to resolve issues, and the result from the other side is just to carry on.
“At some stage you must decide whether you will accept that.
“It is about protecting the game and making sure it is healthy and sustainable going forward.
“That is critical for the players, whose livelihoods depend on it.”
SACA are embroiled in a court battle with CSA over plans to restructure local cricket, expanding it from six domestic franchises to 12.
However, that could mean a reduction in earnings for players.
SACA, which represents 310 professional cricketers, have previously bemoaned a lack of transparency from CSA on a range of issues relating to the financial position of the organisation and concerns around its governance.
There is also fresh unhappiness that a Fantasy League product endorsed by CSA for their Mzansi Super League Twenty20 competition is using names and images of players without their permission, potentially also putting them at risk of unwittingly flouting gambling rules in CSA’s own anti-corruption code.
