ENTIRE CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA’S BOARD RESIGNS, GETS ACCEPTED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT - REPORT 

Just weeks ahead of international home summer, the entire board of Cricket South Africa has resigned. The organisation took to social media and announced this big news. 

"All independent and non-independent directors have now resigned," Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a post on Twitter.

This big news made headlines just weeks ahead where South Africa are due to host World Cup champions England in three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in late November and early December.

Meanwhile in a statement, CSA said "the resignations had been accepted and were with immediate effect, with the exception of three directors who would remain in place to ensure the continuity and stability of the organisation" until an interim board was appointed. 

According to India Today's report, the resignations have taken place due to a feud with the government. It came one day before a deadline threatening intervention by sports minister Nathi Mthethwa. Prior to the resignations, a series of meetings of a 14-person members' council, which consists of the presidents of provincial unions affiliated to CSA, had taken place. 

On Monday an announcement followed the resignation of six board members, including acting president Beresford Williams, which took place on Sunday.

Meanwhile, according to CSA's website, the council "sets general policy for CSA". A report in The Citizen newspaper quoted an unnamed insider as saying: "Not all of the directors were happy to go but they were basically told they had to, we forced them." Six "non-independent" board members -- elected from cricket structures -- were also part of the members' council.

However, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), an umbrella body for elite sports, demanded in September that the board step down in order for Sascoc to appoint a task team to investigate CSA. 

When the cricket board failed to cooperate, Sascoc asked the minister to intervene, potentially putting CSA's standing with the International Cricket Council at risk. Currently, the future of the members' council is uncertain but it is likely that it will not be possible for board members to also be part of the council.

After the Members’ Council had deliberated and resolved that in order to best serve the interest of cricket in South Africa, the entire Board should resign - which they did. All Independent and Non-Independent Directors have now resigned.

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 26, 2020