Cricket South Africa (CSA) issued an apologetic statement on Saturday (March 10) after some of its officials were spotted with fans wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks during the first day of the second Test against Australia at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on Friday (March 9).
An image of CSA officials Clive Eksteen and Altaaf Kazi went viral after the first day’s play in which both of them were seen donning the masks in a foolish attempt to ridicule David Warner.
While Eksteen is currently serving Cricket South Africa as head of commercial and marketing, Kazi is the body’s head of communications.
Both the officials are currently under investigation for taking part in such a derogatory act to humiliate Warner and his wife Candice, who had attended the first day’s play in Port Elizabeth with her two children.
“On behalf of CSA, I extend my sincere apologies to the board of Cricket Australia (CA), its officials, team management, players and their families,” CSA president Chris Nenzani said in a statement.
“CSA does not associate itself with these actions and urges all Protea supporters from refraining from being involved in distasteful or unwelcome actions that may impact the image of the sport and its supporters,” the statement further read.
It is pertinent to mention here that Candice Warner has had previous high-profile relationships with sporting stars such as Braith Anasta, Matt Henjak, Matt Poole, Brent Staker, Anderson, David Carney and Marcos Baghdatis. She is also known for a toilet tryst with rugby superstar Sonny Bill Williams back in 2007.
The video footage of the ugly altercation between David Warner and South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock emerged on Monday (March 5) in which Warner can be seen pointing and directing a verbal barrage at De Kock, before he was restrained and taken away by his teammates. If the reports of certain media outlets are to be believed, the fracas was ignited by De Kock, who had passed some disparaging remarks on Warner's wife while some allege that Warner started the scuffle by taking pot shots at De Kock's family members and termed the Proteas glovesman as "bush pig".
Nonetheless, both the players have now been penalized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). While De Kock was charged for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct and has been fined 25 percent of his match fee, in addition, to be awarded one demerit point, Warner was found guilty of breaching Level 2 of the ICC's code of conduct for the same offence. The Australian vice-captain has been fined 75 percent of his match fee (approximately $13,500) and has given three demerit points.
