SA20: India’s Tour Boost – CSA’s Financial Game Changer

During their annual meeting in Johannesburg on Saturday, Cricket South Africa announced a net profit of USD 13,723,600 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Although this was nearly three-and-a-half times smaller than the previous year’s profit, it marked a substantial turnaround from the losses ranging from USD 6,861,800 to USD 12,743,342 (at current exchange rates) experienced over the prior three years.

The significant changes were attributed to the SA20, partly owned by CSA, and profitable tours by India’s men’s team over the last two seasons.

According to CSA’s integrated report, the third edition of the SA20, held in January and February, “generated [USD 103,791,923] in direct spending, contributed [USD 305,609,550] to GDP, and supported about 8,199 jobs”. Additionally, four T20Is played by India in South Africa in November led to an “indirect and induced economic impact of approximately [USD 12,570,356] for South Africa.”

Total expenses were documented at USD 74,960,833, but CSA maintained reserves of USD 81,880,295 and held a “cash and investment balance” of USD 39,786,904.

These achievements were mirrored by on-field success, with South Africa’s men’s team winning the WTC and both the men’s and women’s teams reaching the T20 World Cup finals.

This prosperity contrasts sharply with the challenging times when CSA faced a series of governance crises. The troubles of that era culminated in December 2019 with the suspension of then-chief executive Thabang Moroe, following the unwarranted revocation of five senior cricket journalists’ accreditation. Moroe was dismissed in August 2020.

His departure lifted the gloom surrounding the organization, but it also saw major sponsors withdraw, with replacements slow to appear. It was only this August that the men’s ODI team featured a sponsor’s name and logo on their shirts again, courtesy of a deal with Suzuki signed in April.

It takes significant time and trust for corporates to attach their name to a brand previously seen as toxic. Supporting the team by placing their name on the shirts signifies the regained trust.

Under the leadership of Pholetsi Moseki, Moroe’s successor, CSA seems to be restoring its reputation. Moseki, an accountant by trade rather than a cricket insider, brings a new perspective. Historically, many insiders have been linked to various detrimental agendas.

But such issues aren’t universal. Take Andrew Hudson, who spent nearly nine hours at the crease scoring 163 against a formidable attack including Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Patrick Patterson in Barbados in April 1992.

A player of stylish precision at the crease, Hudson, believed to have passed on his elegant cover drive to Laura Wolvaardt, played 34 more Tests and hit three additional centuries.

After serving as selection convenor from May 2010 to April 2015, Hudson joined CSA’s board as an independent director in June 2021. At 60, Hudson retired from the board on Saturday, leaving behind a legacy not of scandal, but of valuable contributions and unwavering integrity.