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Cape Town - Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola says the governing body has heard with great shock and sadness of the sudden passing of Peter Roebuck, an internationally renowned cricket correspondent and author.
Roebuck, 55, a former captain of Somerset and Cambridge University, was covering the Test series between the Proteas and Australia for various Australian Media outlets when he committed suicide on Saturday night.
“CSA has lost a good friend,” commented Majola. “He was a fierce critic of South African cricket in the unhappy days of the rebel tours but he made a personal tour of South Africa after the completion of the unity process and the establishment of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
“My late brother, Khaya, who was in charge of the development programmes, took him on tours of the various townships and, from being one of our harshest critics, he became one of our best supporters."
Majola also praised Roebuck's passion for development and equal opportunities for all players in South African cricket.
“He personally arranged bursaries so that some of the township players emerging at that time could gain experience by playing club cricket in England.
“Peter had homes in both South Africa and Australia and he had a tremendous passion for the emergence of a Proteas team that would accurately reflect the demographics of our country and be truly representative of all South Africans. In that way he shared CSA’s vision for cricket in this country.
“One of his most recent columns was about the progress being made to bring more ethnic African players through the system to represent the Proteas. As always, his writing was both challenging and thought-provoking."
Majola further describes Roebuck as a "fiercely independent critic but one who always endeavoured to serve the best interests of cricket". He believes Roebuck set a new standard for cricket columnists around the world.
“On behalf of the CSA family I extend our condolences to his family and friends. We will all miss his contribution to the game.”
Roebuck, 55, a former captain of Somerset and Cambridge University, was covering the Test series between the Proteas and Australia for various Australian Media outlets when he committed suicide on Saturday night.
“CSA has lost a good friend,” commented Majola. “He was a fierce critic of South African cricket in the unhappy days of the rebel tours but he made a personal tour of South Africa after the completion of the unity process and the establishment of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
“My late brother, Khaya, who was in charge of the development programmes, took him on tours of the various townships and, from being one of our harshest critics, he became one of our best supporters."
Majola also praised Roebuck's passion for development and equal opportunities for all players in South African cricket.
“He personally arranged bursaries so that some of the township players emerging at that time could gain experience by playing club cricket in England.
“Peter had homes in both South Africa and Australia and he had a tremendous passion for the emergence of a Proteas team that would accurately reflect the demographics of our country and be truly representative of all South Africans. In that way he shared CSA’s vision for cricket in this country.
“One of his most recent columns was about the progress being made to bring more ethnic African players through the system to represent the Proteas. As always, his writing was both challenging and thought-provoking."
Majola further describes Roebuck as a "fiercely independent critic but one who always endeavoured to serve the best interests of cricket". He believes Roebuck set a new standard for cricket columnists around the world.
“On behalf of the CSA family I extend our condolences to his family and friends. We will all miss his contribution to the game.”
