Cricket
Horn confirms political interference ahead of WC semi─── 16:30 Thu, 16 Apr 2015
South African-born Swiss explorer and adventurer, Mike Horn, has confirmed that there was political interference with the Proteas team ahead of their Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
Horn had been used by the team to motivate the players during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and the motivational speaker said the plan was to use the exact same team that beat Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals.
He added that Cricket South Africa CEO, Haroon Lorgat indeed instructed coach Russell Domingo to add an extra player of colour the expense of either Kyle Abbott or Rilee Rossouw.
The players were unhappy with the team selection and Horn was tasked to re-motivate the team.
“What actually happened was the team was the team that played against Sri Lanka. We’re not going into any politics, but it had a role to play. I had to do a little bit of talk to the guys after the team was selected and a little bit of energy was taken away from the quarter-finals where the right team played," Horn said speaking from the Laureus World Sports Awards in Shanghai, China.
CSA and the Lorgat earlier denied these reports levelled against him and refuse to comment further on the matter.
The Black Caps beat South Africa in the semi-final to book their first ever final, which they lost to Australia in Melbourne.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
Quote - EWN
