The chief executive of the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union, Jesse Chellan, says a report this week suggesting that Hashim Amla could quit the Dolphins at the end of this season is “factually incorrect and misleading” and that KZN Cricket takes the “strongest exception to it”.
The report claimed Amla was unhappy with various aspects of administration at the union, including a gripe that new signing Lonwabo Tsotsobe was paid more than him, and that he could move to the Lions or the CapeCobras next season.
Chellan slammed the report saying it contained “elements and insinuations that are factually incorrect and misleading. The article compromises the good name of Hashim Amla and of the KZN Cricket Union, and as such KZN Cricket takes the strongest exception.”
The report claimed: Amla was “miffed” that (new signing) Tsotsobe was paid R20 000 more than him to play for the franchise.
He wasn’t invited to play in a match for the Dolphins in the domestic Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
He was unhappy with the way his brother, Ahmed, had been treated at the union.
Ahmed Amla had been “promised” the job of coach of the KZN amateur team, but was ignored in favour of former international Roger Telemachus.
Chellan pointed out that Amla was a nationally contracted player and did not receive independent payments from KZN Cricket.
“Hashim Amla is a CSA contracted player, and all CSA contracted players determine the franchise that they play for. The franchises have no say in this matter. It is the player’s choice.
“I wish to state categorically that at no stage has Hashim Amla approached KZN Cricket for any additional payment to remain with or play for the Dolphins. This would be contrary to the CSA and South African Cricketers’ Association guidelines in this regard. So the allegation that Hashim is unhappy with KZN Cricket for not paying him any additional fee is totally false,” said Chellan.
The chief executive said that Amla was approached to play for the Dolphins between the Test and ODI series, but that his agent, Ismail Kajee, said he was unavailable.
Chellan denied that Ahmed Amla had been promised the coaching job with the amateur squad, saying the position was subject to applications and interviews. Telemachus was deemed the best available man for the job.
As for the allegation that Ahmed Amla had been treated unfairly, Chellan said that “KZN Cricket is still in contract negotiations with all players whose contracts conclude on April 30, and this includes Ahmed Amla” .
Ahmed Amla, 33, has had a modest career for the Dolphins since his debut in 1997/8. He has played in 128 first-class matches, scoring 13 hundreds and 33 fifties at an average of 34.3. He was injured for most of last season and has not played for the senior team this season.
He has, however, scored 374 runs at 37 for the amateur team in the three-day competition.