Problems in Cricket South Africa are like cancer and it’s not getting any better, says Graeme Smith

Former captain and Cricket South Africa director of cricket (DOC) Graeme Smith has said that the problems in the board were “internal agendas” which have become a “cancer”.

Smith hinted at a few people at senior positions and said that they have brought disrepute to the organisation. “I think it’s been cancer from within the organisation for a while and it’s not getting any better,” Smith was quoted as saying by a news24.com report.

“You try and work out who in senior positions in this organisation is doing this, and why? What is the end goal? Is it serving cricket? It’s quite clearly someone in a high-profile position, whether it is in the business part of the board part because some of the stuff being leaked can only be from those parties within the organisation,” he said.

The former opening batsman, who joined as DOC in December last year following the suspension of CEO Thabang Moroe, has since signed a two-year deal with the option of extending for a third term.

The 39-year-old said he “certainly does feel that there are people within these positions who have ulterior motives.”

The report also quoted CSA president Chris Nenzani as saying that “he was aware of certain individuals leaking information to the media” and “this has been a problem within the organisation for a period of around 18 months.”

"It has affected a lot of people. I have previously raised my own unhappiness on this issue with the board,” he added.

Smith, who scored 9265 runs from 117 Tests between 2002 and 2014, said the controversy surrounding his appointment as DOC and his staff was unfair.

“CSA courted me for a while, I went through the same interview process as everybody else in getting the job. I got involved because I have got cricket at heart and to be part of the solution. I want to help create a strong CSA,” he said in a CSA release.

“I think the narrative is really unfair. I was appointed by a really vigorous process and didn’t go and appoint myself. I’ve made it clear why I got involved.”

Talking about the appointments he made, Smith said, “I made a number of appointments in December, not only Mark Boucher. I brought in the permanent staff like the team manager Volvo (Masubelele), Justin Ontong, Charl Langeveldt, Enoch Nkwe and the medical staff.

“The appointment of Paul Harris was around Keshav Maharaj requesting to work with him for one series. Jacques Kallis hasn’t been on the payroll of Cricket South Africa for many months, he worked on an interim basis and it is important to clarify that those appointments were not permanent.