Razeen Gutta
Cricket South Africa (CSA) are seeking urgent advice from their legal team after former spinner Paul Adams confirmed that he would not be testifying at Mark Boucher’s disciplinary hearing next week.
Adams, who took 134 wickets in 45 tests for the Proteas, said in a statement on Sunday that he did not wish to single out Boucher when alleging that he was racially discriminated against.
The 45-year-old said at last year’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings that he was called a “brown s***”. Boucher later apologised for the statement.
“I went to SJN with no malice but with good intentions so that present and future players, irrespective of race, wouldn’t have to go through what I and other players did in those times,” Adams said in a social media statement on Sunday.
“It is not my job or desire to find Mark Boucher guilty or not guilty and to be cross-examined and turned into the main focus of attention. Therefore I will not be testifying at Mark Boucher’s upcoming disciplinary hearing.”
With the hearing getting underway next Monday, CSA has limited time to prepare. And the statement will surely have hindered their efforts up to now to have Boucher dismissed.
“Cricket South Africa has noted the statement made by Paul Adams regarding his decision to withdraw as a witness in the disciplinary proceedings against Mark Boucher,” chairperson Lawson Naidoo told Sport24.
“CSA will be seeking urgent advice from its external lawyers on the impact of this statement on the disciplinary proceedings. Once that advice has been received, it will be considered by the Board and a further statement will be made in due course.”
Image source: @capestop
