By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Proteas spinner Paul Adams says he will not be testifying against former teammate and current South Africa coach Mark Boucher at his upcoming disciplinary hearing relating to the Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) hearings.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has appointed respected Senior Counsel, Advocate Terry Motau to chair the disciplinary hearing into the conduct of Boucher, who was fingered in the final SJN report. The hearing will be from May 16-19.
Boucher was strongly criticised in the final SJN report for calling Adams, ‘brown sh*t,’ as part of team song when the pair were in the SA side in the late 1990s.
Adams, who played 45 Tests for his country from 1995 to 2004, confirmed on Sunday saying that he did not intend to single out Boucher during the SJN hearings, and that he would not testify at Boucher’s hearing.
“I went to SJN with no malice but with good intentions so that present and future players, irrespective of race, wouldn’t have to go through what I and other players did in those times,” said Adams in a statement released on Sunday.
“Also, to make people aware that there needs to be education and acknowledgement around racism and for us to have a greater respect for each other within our society in South Africa.
“In my testimony, I said that during my time in the national team, there was a culture within that environment that felt it was fine for a derogatory nickname given to me to be sung during fines meetings in the changing room by my fellow team-mates.
“I indicated, upon reflection and after discussing with my wife (my girlfriend at the time), that I felt humiliated by the song. Not at any stage did I mention any player’s name who may have initiated the song.
“The only time I confirmed a name was when the panel asked if I addressed Mark Boucher personally regarding the nickname and I replied that he was part of a broader group that sang the song and that I never addressed the matter within the team environment at the time. I was young and naïve at the time, trying to fit in and represent my country as best I could.
“Not at any stage did I go in there with the intention to single Mark Boucher out, as one can confirm by listening to my testimony in the YouTube clip from 39:20 till 46:30.”
Adams went on to say that he has no desire to prove Boucher guilty or not, and hopes that his truth and experiences can never be repeated again.