World Cup on hold for CSA board reform push

Moves that could plunge South African cricket back into the administrative and financial chaos of a decade ago have been paused, with the men’s World Cup scheduled for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October-November 2026 providing a reason for stability.

Cricbuzz has learnt there is a push among the presidents of CSA’s 15 provincial affiliates for fewer independent directors on the organisation’s board. The current constitution provides for eight independent and five non-independent members, with the chair required to be independent. The non-independents tend to be provincial presidents, some of whom are calling for a narrowing of that gap, with others wanting the majority of the board drawn from their ranks.

“Because they’ve lost control and they don’t like it,” an insider with first-hand knowledge of the situation told Cricbuzz on condition of anonymity. “They’re not even part of the SA20, which is uber successful. [Two of] their provinces have been put under administration. They’ve become irrelevant, and they can’t handle that. They believe by getting power back they’ll become relevant. But the reality is they will kill the game.”

Provincial presidents split on reform

Outgoing Gauteng president Earl Glennistor, who sits on CSA’s board as part of the members council — the grouping of provincial presidents — told Cricbuzz he was “not pushing” for a return to the old system. He added the idea was not new: “When I got to the members council [in May 2020] it was there already.”

“I’m torn [between a majority of independent or non-independent directors],” Glennistor said. “If we look at other federations in our country, like rugby and soccer, one is very good and one is very bad. But both of them are controlled by non-independent directors. So it really depends on who’s on the board.”

The article contrasts South African Rugby Union’s reported USD1.9-million loss for 2025 with the South African Football Association’s USD300,000 smaller loss, noting rugby remains in far better health overall, with the Springboks winning four of nine men’s World Cups contested, while Bafana Bafana have reached the knockout stage only once in four trips.

Financial fragility below international level

Below international level cricket is poorer than football. Of the 15 provincial affiliates only Northerns, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal — who field the Titans, the Lions and the Dolphins — are on a firm financial footing. The other dozen provinces, including sides based at iconic grounds like Newlands and St George’s Park, are on life support provided by CSA.

Provincial presidents argue they need a greater say in how the game is run. “A strong CSA means strong affiliates,” one provincial president said. “Strong affiliates means strong clubs. It filters all the way down. Cricket in this country is not made up of the people in the Proteas. It’s made up of every single person who supports the Proteas.”

A veteran administrator said: “The biggest problem is the overwhelming position taken by independents. The provincial presidents feel their voices are lost in the system. And that less and less is being spent on actual cricket, which seems to be taking a smaller role because everything is concentrated in how the finances look. But they have to understand that without finances you can’t sustain yourself.”

Why the push is paused

CSA’s board was wholly non-independent until February 2013, when five independents joined as many provincial presidents following a scandal over improperly declared bonuses equivalent to USD555,000 paid to CSA by the IPL. A protracted pile-up of failures under president Chris Nenzani and chief executive Thabang Moroe led to the board’s current composition in June 2021.

“There’s no doubting that taking away the members council’s power has had massive positives,” an insider said. “One is that we’ve seen sponsorships come on board like never before. Yet these guys think they can go back to the old days and have their power. It’s scary.”

CSA will hold its annual meeting on September 26. A return to the previous board model will not be up for discussion or decision. “We need stability in the game,” another source said. Especially with the men’s World Cup scheduled to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November next year. “You can’t hand control of the asylum to the crazies while the world is watching.”

The conversation, sources say, is expected to resume after the World Cup.