Published: Jul 16, 2016, 01:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 16, 2016, 04:15 PM (IST)
Former South Africa batsman, Hylton Ackerman was removed by Cricket South Africa (CSA) as the host of the annual awards function. The governing body made the decison on Friday on the lines of Ackerman’s announcement of moving to Australia in the month of September for safety purposes. Although, CSA has not yet announced who has replaced Ackerman as the host for the upcoming awards event. He had announced his decision to move to Australia on Facebook and his employer, SuperSport also confirmed that Ackerman will serve as the director of coaching at Guildford Grammar School in Perth. He also expressed his disappointment after he was officially removed as the host. READ: CSA suspends South Africa’s performance review panel
CSA spokesperson Altaaf Kazi said, “In view of certain negative comments on social media following HD’s Facebook post that he was leaving SA for Australia, we have decided to avoid any further potential negative comments around HD hosting the live CSA Awards. We decided to replace him and have no further comments to make in this regard,” as quoted by Sport24.
Ackerman’s Facebook post dated July 13 read, “It is with a heavy heart that I have to let all my friends know that Kerryn , James, Tannah and I will be moving to Perth, Australia in September. It has caused many sleepless nights and even more tears but it is a decision that we have reached as a family and feel it is the best one we can make for our little ones at this time.”
He also wrote, “I hope that the decision we are making is the right one for us,and I truly hope that South Africa does go on to reach her true potential.”
On being removed as the host, Ackerman again reached out to Facebook to express his feelings. He said, “Wow, just been pulled off hosting the cricket South Africa Awards on the 26th because a few people on social media feel my move to Australia is because im racist. Forget the fact my wife’s sister had just moved to Brisbane, and that my wife’s parents have just moved to Perth, or that I got a job offer in Perth that included a school bursary for my son. Those reasons are not good enough.wow wow wow [sic]”
