South Africa winter tour plans unveiled

Johannesburg - When South Africa head for Sri Lanka in late June this year they join the jet-setters club playing in venues as diverse as Galle, Colombo, Melbourne and Singapore in a matter of eight weeks.

The proposed Sri Lanka itinerary, which also includes a triangular series against the hosts as well as Pakistan, is at present with the senior's squad's management in India and Dr Ali Bacher, the UCB managing director, confirmed that formal approval of the tour would be made sometime next week.

It would give the captain, Hansie Cronje, along with coach Graham Ford and manager Goolam Raja, a chance to comment on the proposals.

While the LOIs in Melbourne against Australia have been confirmed for mid-August, the Singapore triangular series is now to be held after the three slogs at an indoor venue in the Victorian capital.

The countries involved in the Singapore triangular are India and New Zealand after which the side returns home to prepare for the summer season and the tours by the Kiwis, also known by the ubiquitous title, Black Caps, and Sri Lanka.

South Africa A team tour of the West Indies has been shifted to later in the year, which could cause a problem for a number of players now engaged in playing in the various leagues in the UK. Although the West Indies itinerary is being confined to Trinidad and Guyana, on the South American continent, along with as yet another undisclosed island, poor weather could still hit the tour.

September is known in the Caribbean for its cyclone style weather and after the experience of Sri Lanka two years ago, a tour dogged by bad weather will not be looked on too kindly by the team's management or the players. A new coach to replace Corrie van Zyl, is also needed for the A team.

In another move the UCB have appointing a 2003 World Cup steering committee which is to oversee policy. The chairman is Professor Jakes Gerwel, rector of Rhodes University and former secretary of the cabinet of the Government of Unity as well as a former director general of the State President's office. Khaya Ngqula. Of the Industrial Development Council, Professor Michael Katz, Richard Harrison and UCB executive members Tim Khumalo and Robbie Muzzell are also part of the 10-strong committee. What is interesting is that the ANC Government is also to have a finger in the decision-making as space has been made for a government representative.

Ian Smith the UCB's present financial director, has been appointed director of operations for the 2003 event from October 1 this year. His portfolio is responsible for financial, ticketing, organizing and media accreditation. The UCB has also appointed Bronwyn Wilkinson as the board?s communications manager from March 1.