Acting president Beresford Williams and five other Cricket South Africa board members resigned on Sunday, two days ahead of a deadline threatening intervention from the country’s sports minister.

The resignations were announced in a series of tweets on CSA’s official Twitter account.

The organisation has been in disarray since chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended last December, prompting calls from the country’s players’ association and major sponsors for the board to resign.

Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa threatened on October 14 to intervene directly in CSA’s affairs unless CSA provided him with reasons in writing why he should not get involved.&nbsp;

He set a deadline of October 27. Government interference would put CSA at risk of sanctions from the International Cricket Council.

Sunday’s resignations are likely to lead to the formation of an interim committee.

The latest move comes less than a month before a limited overs series against World Cup champions England.

Williams was made acting president following the resignation of Chris Nenzani in August.

According to CSA’s tweet: "Mr Williams is deeply passionate about cricket and because of his love for the game he has resigned because this is the best way he can currently serve cricket."&nbsp;

CSA thanked Williams for his "loyalty and dedicated service".

In separate tweets, the resignation of four other non-independent board members and one independent board member were announced.

The resignations followed meetings of CSA’s Members’ Council, the overall policy-making body of CSA from which non-independent board members are elected.

The four non-independent directors stated they were resigning only from the board and would remain on the Members’ Council, while Williams resigned from both bodies.

The resignations meant that only one non-independent and three independent directors remained on the board. It was not clear whether more resignations would follow.

In a statement following the tweets, the Members’ Council confirmed the resignations of the non-independent directors and announced that Rihan Richards had been made acting president of the council. The statement did not mention the resignation of the independent director, Dheven Dharmalingam.

There was no immediate reaction from the sports ministry.

Acting president Beresford Williams and five other Cricket South Africa board members resigned on Sunday, two days ahead of a deadline threatening intervention from the country’s sports minister.

Acting president Beresford Williams and five other Cricket South Africa board members resigned on Sunday, two days ahead of a deadline threatening intervention from the country’s sports minister. The resignations were announced in a series of tweets on CSA’s official Twitter account. The organisation has been in disarray since chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended last December, prompting calls from the country’s players’ association and major sponsors for the board to resign. Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa threatened on October 14 to intervene directly in CSA’s affairs unless CSA provided him with reasons in writing why he should not get involved. He set a deadline of October 27. Government interference would put CSA at risk of sanctions from the International Cricket Council. Sunday’s resignations are likely to lead to the formation of an interim committee. The latest move comes less than a month before a limited overs series against World Cup champions England. Williams was made acting president following the resignation of Chris Nenzani in August. According to CSA’s tweet: "Mr Williams is deeply passionate about cricket and because of his love for the game he has resigned because this is the best way he can currently serve cricket." CSA thanked Williams for his "loyalty and dedicated service". In separate tweets, the resignation of four other non-independent board members and one independent board member were announced. The resignations followed meetings of CSA’s Members’ Council, the overall policy-making body of CSA from which non-independent board members are elected. The four non-independent directors stated they were resigning only from the board and would remain on the Members’ Council, while Williams resigned from both bodies. The resignations meant that only one non-independent and three independent directors remained on the board. It was not clear whether more resignations would follow. In a statement following the tweets, the Members’ Council confirmed the resignations of the non-independent directors and announced that Rihan Richards had been made acting president of the council. The statement did not mention the resignation of the independent director, Dheven Dharmalingam. There was no immediate reaction from the sports ministry.

Cricket South Africa board members resign as deadline looms

"There are a lot of rumours about retirement," said Faf du Plessis after South Africa lost the third Test against England by an innings and 53 runs -– their seventh defeat in eight Test matches. I think I have been pretty clear that I have committed myself to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/faf-du-plessis-calls-hashim-amla-father-figure-of-south-africa-team-241861">Cricket South Africa</a> until the T20 World Cup (in Australia in October and November)."

"Definitely," he said when asked whether he was under more pressure than at any other time of his career, adding "I'm not a robot."

<img alt="Du Plessis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5bfc1724-ed68-4dc8-ad0f-4ddacde12f72" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2821%29_1.jpg" /> 
[ Faf Du Plessis (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

"It’s a tough time but there's no running away from it," he said. "There’s no escape. I’m the leader of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-can-still-reach-world-cup-semis-without-steyn-says-faf-du-plessis-224351">the team</a>. It (pressure) comes with the job description."

<img alt="Faf du Plessis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="495e3084-1b83-41fa-b443-80379abf7164" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2822%29_5.jpg" /> 
[ Faf Du Plessis (Courtesy: PTI) ]

"There was a time when it was nice and easy and everything was going our way as a team. We had a strong team and a high success ratio. Now we are on the bottom side of that wave. We’ve got to go back to the office and work again."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-sudden-structural-changes-work-in-south-africas-favour-270924">We have got the right people in the right jobs: Faf du Plessis</a>

However, he said his Test career could come to an end later this year after the fourth Test against England, starting at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday, and a two-Test tour of the West Indies in July and August.

"I want to be the strongest leader I can be for the team and for now that's committing to this series," he said.

"The worst thing a leader can do is pull the plug mid-series and say, 'Sorry boys, I’m out, I’ve had enough'. I don’t think that is what leadership is about. You have to stick through the tough times as well."&nbsp;

"There are a lot of rumours about retirement," said Faf du Plessis after South Africa lost the third Test against England by an innings and 53 runs -– their seventh defeat in eight Test matches.

"There are a lot of rumours about retirement," said Faf du Plessis after South Africa lost the third Test against England by an innings and 53 runs -– their seventh defeat in eight Test matches. I think I have been pretty clear that I have committed myself to Cricket South Africa until the T20 World Cup (in Australia in October and November)." "Definitely," he said when asked whether he was under more pressure than at any other time of his career, adding "I'm not a robot." [ Faf Du Plessis (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "It’s a tough time but there's no running away from it," he said. "There’s no escape. I’m the leader of the team. It (pressure) comes with the job description." [ Faf Du Plessis (Courtesy: PTI) ] "There was a time when it was nice and easy and everything was going our way as a team. We had a strong team and a high success ratio. Now we are on the bottom side of that wave. We’ve got to go back to the office and work again." Also Read: We have got the right people in the right jobs: Faf du Plessis However, he said his Test career could come to an end later this year after the fourth Test against England, starting at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday, and a two-Test tour of the West Indies in July and August. "I want to be the strongest leader I can be for the team and for now that's committing to this series," he said. "The worst thing a leader can do is pull the plug mid-series and say, 'Sorry boys, I’m out, I’ve had enough'. I don’t think that is what leadership is about. You have to stick through the tough times as well."

Faf Du Plessis might retire after T20 World Cup in October

Former Test captain Graeme Smith is set to become Cricket South Africa's (CSA) director of cricket, the governing body's president Chris Nenzani announced on Saturday.

Nenzani added at a press conference he had spoken to 38-year-old Smith earlier in the day.

"I am happy to announce that we have engaged Graeme Smith and I am confirming that by next week Wednesday all of the negotiations around the contract terms that need to take place would have been concluded," said Nenzani, speaking after a special board meeting of CSA, following a week of crisis for the organisation.

If Smith agrees to take the job he will have just over two weeks to put a selection panel and coaching staff in place before the first of four Tests against England, starting in Centurion on December 26.

Despite calls for the resignation of Nenzani and the entire board, Nenzani said the board had been mandated by the organisation's members' council – made up of presidents of the 14 provincial affiliates – "to continue to guide us through this period and turn it around."

The press conference came after a tumultuous week during which five leading journalists had their accreditation withdrawn, a major sponsor announced it would not renew its agreement with CSA and chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended on charges of misconduct.

Nenzani said a lack of trust in Moroe by Smith was a factor in negotiations which have been conducted sporadically over a period of three months.

Several prominent individuals, as well as the Gauteng cricket board and the SA Cricketers’ Association, called for the board to stand down but Nenzani said the issue had not been raised at a meeting of the members' council which started late on Friday and continued until the early Saturday.

He brushed off the resignations of three of the board's five independent directors.&nbsp;

"We thank them for their service and will engage in a process to fill the vacancies," he said.

Nenzani said the respected Jacques Faul, the chief executive of the Northerns cricket union and a former acting chief executive of SA, had agreed to again become the acting chief executive with immediate effect.

 
&nbsp;

Former Test captain Graeme Smith is set to become Cricket South Africa's (CSA) director of cricket, the governing body's president Chris Nenzani announced on Saturday.

Former Test captain Graeme Smith is set to become Cricket South Africa's (CSA) director of cricket, the governing body's president Chris Nenzani announced on Saturday. Nenzani added at a press conference he had spoken to 38-year-old Smith earlier in the day. "I am happy to announce that we have engaged Graeme Smith and I am confirming that by next week Wednesday all of the negotiations around the contract terms that need to take place would have been concluded," said Nenzani, speaking after a special board meeting of CSA, following a week of crisis for the organisation. If Smith agrees to take the job he will have just over two weeks to put a selection panel and coaching staff in place before the first of four Tests against England, starting in Centurion on December 26. Despite calls for the resignation of Nenzani and the entire board, Nenzani said the board had been mandated by the organisation's members' council – made up of presidents of the 14 provincial affiliates – "to continue to guide us through this period and turn it around." The press conference came after a tumultuous week during which five leading journalists had their accreditation withdrawn, a major sponsor announced it would not renew its agreement with CSA and chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended on charges of misconduct. Nenzani said a lack of trust in Moroe by Smith was a factor in negotiations which have been conducted sporadically over a period of three months. Several prominent individuals, as well as the Gauteng cricket board and the SA Cricketers’ Association, called for the board to stand down but Nenzani said the issue had not been raised at a meeting of the members' council which started late on Friday and continued until the early Saturday. He brushed off the resignations of three of the board's five independent directors. "We thank them for their service and will engage in a process to fill the vacancies," he said. Nenzani said the respected Jacques Faul, the chief executive of the Northerns cricket union and a former acting chief executive of SA, had agreed to again become the acting chief executive with immediate effect.

Graeme Smith set to become director of Cricket South Africa