Pollock, Ntini get National Orders

Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock, amongst other sports stars, singers, authors and medical practitioners were honoured at a National Orders ceremony held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The National Orders are the highest awards that the President of South Africa can bestow on citizens and foreign nationals in recognition of prominent contributions to nation building and the achievement of excellence in various fields of endeavor.

In his first orders ceremony President Kgalema Motlanthe bestowed the accolades on over 20 recipients including Springboks Bryan Habana and Percy Montgomery and Proteas Pollock and Ntini who all received the Order of Ikhamanga - Silver.

Accomplished Jazz and Opera singer Sibongile Khumalo as well as long-standing musical group Ladysmith Black Mambazo were also honoured with National Orders in this category. They were joined by writers Ronald Govender, Lauretta Ngcobo and Keorapetse William Kgositsile who were honoured for their contributions to South African literature.

Eighty-nine year old Doris Lessing, the world's oldest Nobel Literature Prize winner, was honoured with the Order of Mapungubwe-Gold for her achievements in literature and her contribution to the elimination of colonialism and apartheid.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery - Gold was posthumously awarded to Thamsanqa Blessing Fihlela and Nomava Shangase for their contribution to freedom through their provision of medical services to exiled South African freedom fighters.

National Orders have been awarded every year since 1994 and twice a year since 2005. Previous recipients include Walter Sisulu, Nadine Gordimer, FW de Klerk, Judge Arthur Chaskalson, Ingrid Jonker and Natalie du Toit.

S Africa welcomes cricket technology aids

With the controversies of the latest series against Australia still fresh in his mind, South African cricket coach Mickey Arthur on Tuesday welcomed the prospect of increased technological involvement in the next series, Business News reported on Wednesday.

Arthur was reacting to news that the International Cricket Council (ICC) board was discussing the issue at its two-day quarterly meeting in Dubai, which started Tuesday.

The ICC said that if it deemed it appropriate, the board would nominate four series for further trials of the system between now and the meeting of the ICC's cricket committee in April and May next year.

It said the intention of the further trials was to provide exposure to the system for as many match referees, umpires and players as possible ahead of a decision on whether it should be implemented permanently. One of the designated series is SA's away and home series against Australia.

Others are England's visit to India and India's tour of Pakistan. Those are followed by England's home Ashes series against Australia in the second part of next year.

SA's latest series against Australia was punctuated by fielding controversies, with catches by Andrew Hall at mid-wicket and a low catch at gully by Australia's Matthew Hayden creating a furore.

"My view has always been that you cannot go halfway," said Arthur. "If you are going to use technology, then you must go the whole hog and use it for everything.

"I was against it in the beginning because I felt that it spoilt the spirit of cricket a bit. But now that it is here, I think they must use it for all the situations it can be used in.

We had some quite nasty situations last time around and if increased use of technology can eliminate those, I am all for it."

One of the new uses of technology has been in the area of catches taken low down. The umpires can ask the TV umpire if clear pictures exist to show that a catch was taken or whether the ball had touched the ground just before going into a fielder's hands.

This has been a difficult one for umpires down the years, and the tradition in the past was to rely on the honesty of the fielder.

Subsequent events have shown that a fielder often cannot tell whether a catch went straight into his hands or first hit the ground. Events in the previous Test series between India and Australia suggested that the fielder's word was not always reliable and the Indians opted out of an agreement that the fielders' word would be taken as final on low catches. The other innovation is the umpire's review system, in which a fielder or batsman can ask for the television umpire to intervene if he thinks the decision given by the on-field umpire is incorrect.

This applies to catch and lbw decisions. The system worked well for Sri Lanka in their recent series against India, when Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene had several decisions by the on-field umpire reversed by the television umpire.

SA start the first of six away and home Tests against Australia on December 12 in Perth.

Clash over new boss for South African cricket

South Africa (CSA) supremo Norman Arendse may be ousted with a third attempt at the presidency by the current chairman of the provincial Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB), Mthuthulezi Nyoka, The Star reported here.

But Arendse, who has faced some controversy over his views on transformation in the national side during his tenure, said any attempt to remove him would be unconstitutional.

CSA is moving towards re-registering as a Section 21 Company, which in South African law is a company which is registered to provide services and does not intend to make, or to be judged by, the profits that they make.

The re-registration of the current company controlling cricket requires that the entire board has to step down and a new board be elected in terms of corporate governance rules. In this process, nominations for the requisite board were made earlier this week, with Nyoka getting the maximum support to become president of the proposed new company.

But Arendse was not part of the nominations process, as he was away in Dubai on International Cricket Council (ICC) business. According to the Star, Arendse now wants to call a special meeting to discuss the matter ahead of the elections scheduled for Sep 26.

Although there were some views that the nominations made in the absence of Arendse were 'sinister', Nyoka, who accepted his nomination, said it had been handled with the required levels of transparency.

'The most urgent need is to unite the sport from the top down, and that I believe is one of my strengths,' said Nyoka, who lost in the bid for the presidency to the late Percy Sonn in 2001 and withdrew his nomination last year after it became clear that Arendse would emerge triumphant.

Arendse told the Cape Times that he intended staying on as president until his term expires in 2010.

'The CSA constitution only makes provision for re-elections at an annual general meeting or special general council meeting due to resignation or death,' Arendse said.

'I am not dead and have no intention of resigning and any attempt to remove me would be unconstitutional.'

Arendse, whose outspoken views on including more black players in the South African side has seen him in public spats with the chief executive of CSA, Gerald Majola, accused those trying to oust him of having their own agenda.

'These are the same anti-transformation forces which are intent on destabilizing what we are trying to achieve in this country,' he said.

Proteas pull out of Champions Trophy

South Africa withdrew on Friday from the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next month because of safety and security concerns.

A Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement said the decision followed a presentation from an International Cricket Council task force headed by the world governing body's chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

"The decision was taken after assessment of the presentation as well as the information available from a number of other security reports, including one from the South African government," the statement said.

South African Cricketers' Association chief executive officer Tony Irish said: "This was a difficult decision, but it was the right one. There is nothing more important than the safety of our national team.

"We appreciate all the efforts of the ICC task team, the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Pakistan authorities and the security consultants. The players are naturally disappointed for their fans and the people of Pakistan that they will not have a chance to see them in action in that country in September."

CSA president Norman Arendse added that he hoped the ICC would be able to reschedule the tournament.

"After extensive discussions and frank exchange of views, the board resolved not to send our team at this time to Pakistan. We respect the right of the Pakistan Cricket Board to stage the tournament and we would urge the ICC to reschedule the tournament as soon as possible."

The ICC executive will meet on Sunday to make a final decision on whether the tournament should go ahead as planned. England, Australia and New Zealand officials and players have also expressed concerns about security and safety after a series of suicide bombings in Pakistan.

Spin worries for South Africa

South Africa dominated the second day of the tour match with Somerset at Taunton.

The Proteas closed their first innings on 515 for three after the mandatory 100 overs and then pace trio Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel were chiefly responsible for dismissing the LV County Championship title-chasers for 249.

But their spinner, former Warwickshire bowler Paul Harris, struggled to find the right line and length and conceded 89 runs in 18.4 overs before picking up the wickets of tail-enders Mark Turner and Michael Munday.

He will be needed to provide effective back-up to the quicker bowlers and all-rounder Jacques Kallis when the first Test with England starts at Lord's on July 10.

South Africa stand-in skipper Ashwell Prince opted not to enforce the follow-on despite having a first-innings lead of 266.

They chose instead for further batting practice and by the close had reached 56 for one for the loss of Jean-Paul Duminey - an overall advantage of 322.

Morkel was the most impressive of the South African attack and his pace is certain to provide a searching examination for Michael Vaughan's England side.

His first spell was the most effective when he yorked Arul Suppiah (16) and forced James Hildreth (nought) to chop on to his stumps.

The main resistance for Somerset came from South African-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter and Wes Durston.

Kieswetter, who played for his native country in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup, top-scored with 67 off 111 balls with 12 boundaries before holing out to Morkel on the midwicket boundary.

Durston, who was playing Minor Counties cricket for Wiltshire a week ago, made 61 off only 79 balls with eight fours and a six before becoming Morkel's third victim.

He played across a ball of full length and was trapped lbw.

South African were also aided by the two needless run-outs of Zander de Bruyn and Peter Trego in mid-innings.

Durston turned spinner Harris to fine leg but De Bruyn (nought) was sent back after getting halfway down the pitch attempting a third run and was run out at the non-striker's end.

Then Trego (12) fell in a similar fashion. Durston cut Nel behind point for what looked a comfortable two but Trego decided to attempt a risky third and paid the price.

The Proteas resumed on 455 for three after an opening day which saw Somerset stand-in skipper Andrew Caddick criticise the ECB for instructing counties to produce batsman-friendly pitches for tourist games.

And the fourth-wicket pair of AB de Villiers and acting skipper Ashwell Prince plundered 60 runs in 10 overs before the mandatory declaration at the 100-over mark which is required in three-day tourist games.

Prince reached his 50 in spectacular manner with a massive six over long-off off spinner Munday. It came off 69 balls and also contained seven fours.

He was unbeaten on 63 when the innings closure came with de Villiers on 47 not out.

Kallis and batsman Hashim Amla, who were both century-makers on the first day, were absent from the field with a bruised elbow and slight groin strain respectively.

But neither are regarded as major injuries worries ahead of the opening Test with England.

Robin Petersen and Monde Zondeki, who had a brief spell with Warwickshire earlier in the season, substituted for the duo.

Skipper Graeme Smith also came through a testing workout on the outfield before the start of play after his hamstring injury and is expected to play against Middlesex at Uxbridge in a three-day game starting on Friday.

SA considered as possible Champions Trophy venue

The International Cricket Council has put South Africa on standby as a possible Champions Trophy venue, but insists that Pakistan remains its first choice as hosts, an ICC source said on Friday.

The year`s biggest one-day tournament featuring the top eight Test nations -- Australia, South Africa, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies -- is due to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.

But touring Pakistan has been a security concern for several foreign teams, especially Australia which postponed its March-April visit this year after a series of suicide bomb blasts.

With Sri Lanka, the alternate venue, in the midst of heavy fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels, the ICC has included South Africa as possible hosts.

"South Africa could hold the Champions Trophy in case Pakistan or Sri Lanka can`t," the ICC source said.

"But it must be stressed that Pakistan remains our first choice and a lot of work has already been done to ensure the tournament is held there."
The northern venues of Johannesburg, Centurion and Potchefstroom will be the venues if the tournament is moved to South Africa, the source added.

A final decision on the host nation will be taken at the ICC`s annual meetings which begin in Dubai on Sunday.

The ICC said earlier this month at the launch ceremony of the biennial event in Lahore that Pakistan will host the tournament -- provided there were no safety and security fears.

"At this point in time we are comfortable with the decision that Pakistan has the ability to host the Champions Trophy, but we will continue to monitor security as it is fluid," ICC official Dave Richardson said at the launch.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said he does not yet know if his side will travel to Pakistan and raised the prospect of individual withdrawals even if the title-holders do decide to send a team.

"We don`t know if we`re going. And if we do go, we don`t know if individuals are going to pull out," Ponting was quoted as saying in Australian newspapers.

"It just won`t be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead."

Pakistan officials have dismissed security concerns, hoping the ongoing Asia Cup in the country will dispel any doubts of their ability to host the Champions Trophy.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are taking part in the Asia Cup, the symbol of one-day supremacy in the region.

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja, now a popular television commentator, hoped countries such as Australia, England and New Zealand will remain positive about touring his country.

"The reservations have come about owing to their perception," Raja was quoted as saying in the Indian media.

"I don`t blame them because if you`re not in Pakistan and you keep hearing and reading about blasts and chaos, then you could be influenced by all that
"Pakistan needs everybody`s support. A positive attitude from the West, so to say, would be of great help. I believe the existing political system will give Pakistan stability.

"Progressively, we`re seeing a calmer Pakistan and things should get better," said Raja.