DURBAN, 17 March 2003 — Sacked South Africa captain Shaun Pollock said yesterday he had been handicapped as skipper because of curbs introduced after Hansie Cronje’s fall from grace.
“Since the Hansie issue there has been an effort to ensure the captain isn’t given too much power,” Pollock told reporters in Durban.
“Shared responsibility was the approach they wanted. That hasn’t worked out from my perspective. “As captain you want full support to be able to do what you want.”
Pollock was sacked on Saturday in the wake of South Africa’s first-round elimination from the World Cup.
The fast bowler was named captain in April, 2000, after Cronje admitted to being involved in match-fixing. Cronje was later banned for life. He died in a plane crash last year, aged 32.
Pollock added: “Whatever Hansie wanted he got in terms of teams, the way forward and how to approach things.
“They (the board) were very worried about the fact of what had happened.
“They didn’t want to give that same power, and maybe that same backing and support. I’m not saying I didn’t get backing and support, but it was probably not as strong as is ideal for a captain leading his country.”
Pollock inadvertently named 22-year-old Western Province batsman Graeme Smith as his successor.
Smith is due to be officially named as captain by South Africa’s United Cricket Board later at 1200 GMT yesterday.
“The captain needs full backing,” Pollock said. “That’s the way I hope they approach it with Graeme. I really hope they give him their full backing...oh, sorry.”
Pollock said he remained passionate about South African cricket and would back Smith fully.
He did not resign, he said: “As I felt that would be the soft option”. Pollock added: “I think I had the players’ respect. I had a good relationship with each and every one of them.”
Graeme Smith Confirmed as
South African Captain
In Cape Town, South African cricket made a clean break from the Hansie Cronje era yesterday when Graeme Smith was appointed as the country’s cricket captain.
“I never met Hansie Cronje,” the 22-year-old said of the disgraced former captain who was sacked in 2000 for taking money from a bookmaker.
“I never played with him or against him. He was a good leader but in the end he tarnished the game. We are starting afresh, there are no issues involved.”
The Westerm Province opener will lead a new-look 14-man squad to two limited-overs tri-series in Sharjah and Bangladesh next month. Six of the World Cup squad were left out, including Gary Kirsten, 35, who announced his retirement from One-Day International cricket although he remained available for Test matches.
Also retired is fast bowler Allan Donald. Dropped were all-rounder Lance Klusener, left-arm spin bowler Nicky Boje and pace bowlers Charl Langeveldt and Monde Zondeki. Taking their place in the side were left-arm spinner Paul Adams, batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Neil McKenzie, left-arm pace bowler Charl Willoughby and swing bowler Alan Dawson.
Boje and Langeveldt were, however, included in a South Africa A squad which will tour Australia in April. But Klusener was not selected and Zondeki was not considered after he suffered a shoulder injury in a car accident on Saturday.
“We are looking at the 2007 World Cup. It is a new era,” said chairman of selectors Omar Henry. “Smith is a young cricketer who is strong in his mind.”
Smith said he had spoken to Pollock twice within the previous 24 hours.
“I had a good chat with him last night and he gave me his support and said he would back me on the field.” He added he had been contacted by all the senior players in the side who had also offered their support. “Captaining your country is a responsibility of the highest order and I accept with great passion, excitement and humility,” he said.
Smith, who has played in eight Tests and 22 One-Day Internationals, said he had captained teams throughout his schoolboy career. He has also captained Western Province and South Africa A.
“Leadership has always been part of my cricket that I enjoy and thrive on. I hope it will affect me in a good way,” he said.
