Dubai: Cricket South Africa says it will consult its board's legal division on Herschelle Gibbs' book To the Point, which tells of his teammates' alleged sexual escapades while on tour.
Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, told Gulf News from Johannesburg that the allegations were being taken seriously by the board. "CSA has tasked its legal counsel to look into the matter and advise according," he said.
When asked whether Gibbs' alleged revelations in the book had any relevance and whether any such action had been brought to his notice at any time, Majola said: "I have not read the book and cannot comment on what is reported in the press."
In an answer to another query as to whether the contents of the book could disturb the players' performance in the series against Pakistan in Dubai, especially in light of the fact that the book's contents were being widely discussed in the cricket world, Majola said: "Everybody concerned [including players] need to wait for the outcome of CSA's processes which will be communicated as soon as the Board has taken a view or a decision on the matter."
Indiscretions
Meanwhile, according to information from South Africa, the book's contents have upset hundreds of young cricketers. The players who have been accused in the book of indiscretions include Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher.
Smith, reacting to the book's allegations, said: "I haven't read the book yet. It is difficult for me to know whether the papers have sensationalised the book or not. But at the moment, based on what is up, it is very disappointing from what is being said."
Many organisations in South Africa are gearing up to express their protest over the book.
The South Africa National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA) expressed their concern as large numbers of the nation's youth look up to sportsmen as role models. Through a statement they said: "The [sexual] orgies he [Gibbs] and teammates [allegedly] participated in would fail to provide under-aged cricket fans with messages about the dangers of HIV/Aids. Given the important role sportsmen and international cricketers fulfil in shaping a world view and value system among many young people and scholars, Cricket South Africa should take whatever actions possible to restore the credibility of international cricket."
