Calcutta: Cricket South Africa (CSA) issued an apology to Cricket Australia (CA) after two of its executives were photographed with fans wearing masks of New Zealand rugby star Sonny Bill Williams on Day I of the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
The Australians are understood to be upset that the masks, used as a taunt to specifically target David Warner and his wife Candice, were let into the venue before the photograph surfaced of the two senior executives posing with the fans.
According to an Australian news website, CSA's commercial manager Clive Eksteen and media and communications manager Altaaf Khazi were photographed arm-in-arm with punters who had been allowed into the St George's Park ground wearing Williams's masks.
Back in 2007, Candice was controversially pictured in a bathroom cubicle with Williams.
The South African board, however, released a statement on Saturday apologising to CA and the Australian cricket team. "On behalf of CSA I extend my sincere apologies to the board of Cricket Australia (CA), its officials, team management, players and their families," commented CSA President Chris Nenzani in a CSA statement.
The statement added: "Cricket South Africa (CSA) wishes to distance itself from the alleged action of certain officials in associating themselves with fans wearing masks representing the face of Sonny Bill Williams, which conduct is seemingly related to the Warner/De Kock incident during the opening day of the second Sunfoil Test match at St. George's Park.
"While CSA respects the rights of its fans to represent their own points of view, CSA does not associate itself with these actions and urges all Protea supporters from refraining from being involved in distasteful or unwelcome actions that may impact the image of the sport and its supporters.
"CSA has taken immediate precautionary steps against the officials allegedly involved in this incident," the statement read.
Alerted on social media that the masks were going to be brought to the game on Friday, the Australians wanted security measures taken.
