Arendse quits South Africa post

Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse resigned from his position with immediate effect, citing “a lack of trust” within the organisation.

Arendse, who also resigned as CSA’s representative on the International Cricket Council, claims he did not have the support of CSA chief executive Gerald Majola or the country’s cricket franchises.

Earlier in the week media reports suggested the 11 South African provinces were preparing to remove Arendse as CSA president just one year into his three-year term.

CSA is preparing to merge its professional and amateur bodies in the next two weeks, a move which will give way to elections to select new officials.

Arendse was set to square off with Gauteng province chief Mtutuzeli Nyoka for the presidency of the restructured organisation.

"It is important that the person who presides over cricket in our country enjoys the full trust and confidence of his chief executive officer and all 11 affiliates who are the custodians of the game. Currently, I enjoy neither,” Arendse said in a statement.

Norman Arendse believes he did not have "the full trust and confidence" of his Cricket SA colleagues

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“And it does not assist me that I may enjoy constitutional protection against my removal at this stage until my three year-term ends in August 2010.

"The truth of the matter is that although I was returned unopposed as president of Cricket South Africa in August 2007 for a three-year term, I never at any stage enjoyed the full trust and confidence of the CEO, and all 11 affiliates.

“The CEO is of the view that the president is merely a ceremonial head there to preside over meetings, and to attend matches, and functions.

"By contrast, I hold the view that the CEO is employed by the Board, and is accountable to it. The president, in between meetings, stands in the shoes of the employer (the Board), and the CEO is accountable to him.

"As a consequence of these sharply contrasting positions, the relationship between the CEO and I, has broken down irretrievably.

“Should we continue in this way, there is a real danger that cricket may be plunged into a crisis, and the game be brought into disrepute.

"In these circumstances, it has become untenable for me to continue presiding over CSA as its president. Accordingly, I have decided to resign with immediate effect.”

Arendse said that his successor must continue to strive for transformation of the game, which was at the heart of his agenda while in office but also the cause of much of the friction between the outgoing president and the provinces.

"Since unity in 1992, those affiliates who continue steadfastly to support me ... have traditionally been the affiliates that are supportive of transformation in cricket as they come from the non-racial fold,” Arendse continued.

"The other affiliates have battled to come to terms with transformation and, in some instances, transformation is completely lacking and remains a foreign concept.

Gerald Majola, here with JP Duminy and Shaun Pollock, defended himself from Arendse's criticism

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"The charges against me appear to be my transformation agenda, and my demand of the CEO that he be accountable to me in my representative capacity as the president of the board.

"I plead guilty to both charges, and have nothing to say in mitigation of sentence."

He added: "It is my sincere wish and desire that my successor pursues this vision with passion, commitment, honesty and integrity.

“Although we must strive for unity in cricket, we can only achieve real unity once we rid the game of self-serving administrators, those who seek to preserve the status quo (based on inequality and privilege), and those who continually manipulate the historical divisions in sport.”

CSA chief Majola responded swiftly to the allegations made by Arendse in his resignation statement.

"It is with surprise and regret that I received the news of Mr Norman Arendse's resignation as President of Cricket South Africa, as he gave no prior indication that he was going,” Majola said.

"It is also with surprise and regret that I have learnt that he has cited irretrievable differences between us as one of the reasons for his resignation.

"The differences between us were of management style, and hardly irretrievable in my view.

"I also question Mr Arendse's statement that I do not respect the office of the President. However, I respect Mr Arendse's decision to resign.”