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The Eastern Province Cricket Board has appointed former Bermuda captain and chartered accountant, Saleem Mukkudem, as the interim Chief Executive Officer of EP Cricket.
Mukkudem’s appointment is an interim position for two months while the Board recruits a permanent CEO.
EP Cricket has been challenged with sustainability and cash flow issues for some time and needs a skilled professional to provide the necessary expertise to assist in turning matters around. Mukkudem’s key task will be to accurately determine the financial status and to address these issues by developing a turnaround plan for the Union.
The 42-year-old Mukuddem qualified in 1999 and then went overseas with one of the Big Four firms on specialist training in Bermuda. He returned to South Africa in 2008.
While in Bermuda he played and represented the islanders as an all-rounder at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. He was instrumental in assisting the Bermuda Cricket Board in setting up two-day cricket on the island as well as designing and implementing an International Players Incentive Scheme.
In local cricket circles, apart from playing club cricket in Cape Town, he also served as a member of the WPCA Finance committee as well as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
“We are certainly very fortunate to have a person of Saleem’s expertise to come on board and help us to turn things around,” said EP Cricket President, Donovan May.
“EP Cricket is clearly not in a healthy position and we need to firstly own up to our challenges and then take decisive action to turn things around. With the help of Saleem and two additional independent directors, we will develop a clear plan to get us back on track.
The Board of EP Cricket will support Saleem fully while we recruit a full-time CEO. I must also thank CSA for supporting us during an extremely difficult period.” concluded May.
CSA president, Chris Nenzani, welcomed EP Cricket Board’s decision to appoint Mukuddem and the two additional independent directors.
“We all know how much cricket talent exists in the Eastern Cape region and it is important that we have sound administration to develop this talent,” commented Nenzani.
“The need for good governance and sound administration is now a hallmark of the way we work in cricket and with experienced independent directors supporting the EP Board and Saleem, I am optimistic that they will turn things around.”
Mukaddam’s appointment is with immediate effect and starts today. He will also oversee the operations leading up to the Boxing Day Test match as well as the Port Elizabeth ODI against the West Indies.
