(Cricinfo) India’s tour of South Africa later this year is all but confirmed, with a formal statement expected in the next 24 hours. The month-long tour is likely to comprise two Tests and three ODIs. The decision follows an assurance from Cricket South Africa that it will suspend its CEO, Haroon Lorgat, from dealing with matters related to India and the ICC pending an inquiry by the world body into allegations against him.
The allegations relate to Lorgat’s role in thestatement issued by David Becker, formerly the ICC’s legal head, that the BCCI’s flouting of the FTP could have legal implications. In his statement, released to the media last week, Becker had said it was “improper” to allow a member body to “blatantly disregard an ICC resolution”.
The issue was touched upon during the ICC Executive Board meeting in London over the weekend and the BCCI’s demand for an ethics committee inquiryagainst Becker and Lorgat gained a lot of support. Many ICC Full Members are believed to have expressed their reservations over Lorgat being a part of ICC proceedings.
Though an ICC spokesperson couldn’t be reached for a comment, it is understood that Lorgat will be suspended from two of the most important responsibilities in his job profile but would continue to take care of all the domestic affairs at CSA as well as dealing with other ICC members.
The decision, which is expected to be made public through a joint statement by the two boards, will end a story that has been playing out for several months. It severely tested the relations between the BCCI and CSA, which have been on best terms since the end of apartheid in the early 1990s.
The origin of the issue was the schedule for India’s tour of South Africa, which was announced by CSA on July 8. However, it immediately fell into problems because the schedule had not been endorsed by the BCCI. And though there was no official statement, the sticking point seemed to be CSA’s appointment of Lorgat as its chief executive despite a series of run-ins between Lorgat and the BCCI during his tenure as ICC chief.
