The governance of cricket in South Africa is seemingly back on track, after Cricket South Africa’s members’ council ratified a new Memorandum of Incorporation this week.

This paves the way for the long-awaited CSA AGM to now take place.

That’s after the members’ council reached an agreement with CSA’s interim board. The two parties met after the Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa had threatened to strip CSA of its status as the game’s official cricketing body by “defunding” and “derecognising” the body.

Mthethwa’s consideration to invoke a section of the National Sports and Recreation Act was due to the reluctance of the members’ council to agree to a majority independent board, which has now been resolved.

“Today is a historic day for cricket in South Africa and we look forward to being part of a new governance structure for cricket and playing our part in ensuring sound administration of the game we hold so dear‚” said Rihan Richards‚ Acting President of the Members’ Council. “I am grateful to my Members’ Council colleagues and the Interim Board for ensuring that we avert a proposed ministerial intervention which would have caused cricket in our country irreparable harm.”

“We trust that this important agreement will give confidence to all cricket’s stakeholders, specifically‚ players‚ staff‚ sponsors and all in the country who love the game of cricket‚” said CSA Interim Board Chairperson Dr Stavros Nicolaou. “We owed it to our country to find a solution to cricket’s governance challenges.”