Bacher adds another
feather to his cap

Ali Bacher, executive director of the International Cricket Council World Cup in 2003, has added another feather to his cap -- an honorary degree recognising his cricket administration skills.

Bacher received the Doctor of Laws from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg on Thursday.

"It is no exaggeration to say that he is today the best-known cricket administrator in the world," the citation noted of the man who is still regarded as the doyen of South African cricket administration.

Bacher was at the helm of the United Cricket Board of South Africa and its predecessors for more than two decades before he stepped down last year to head the ICC's committee preparing for the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Norma Reid, the vice-chancellor and principal, conferred the doctorate on him during a health sciences graduation ceremony at the university.

Bacher graduated as a medical doctor from Wits University in 1967 and practiced medicine for a decade before becoming South Africa's first fulltime cricket administrator and the UCBSA's first managing director.

The university said Bacher had been central to the momentous changes in South African cricket.

"His role... was often controversial but throughout he was guided by an abiding concern to protect and promote the game he loves."

In his acceptance speech, Bacher said it had been his privilege to be exposed to some truly great South Africans, among them Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Thabo Mbeki, and was immensely struck by their spirit of genuine reconciliation and complete willingness to forgive their previous oppressors.

"In this way they gave white South Africans, including myself, the reassurance that we had a real future in a non-racial democratic South Africa. What a lesson that was to me, to all of us!"

He implored young South Africans to stay in this country and build a strong and healthy nation. "My heartfelt appeal to you is that you understand that the destiny of this country lies in your hands. I ask you not to leave this country, but rather build on what you have already achieved, remain staunchly committed to South Africa and ensure that together we build a prosperous and successful and peaceful country."

Bacher is also highly respected among cricket administrators worldwide, even in Pakistan, where cricket authorities still want him to testify regarding allegations he made during the King Commission last year.

Bacher said then that he had been told on good authority about the involvement of Pakistani cricketers in match-fixing. He has since refused to go to Pakistan, saying he had nothing more to say on the matter than what he had said already.

Indo-Asian News Service

--Indo-Asian News Service

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