JOHANNESBURG, April 26, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Former South African captain and
director of cricket Graeme Smith said on Monday that he felt "completely
vindicated" after an arbitration process cleared him of allegations of racial
discrimination.

Cricket South Africa announced Sunday that two independent arbitrators found
in Smith's favour on three issues during his time as captain and later
director of cricket.

In a statement, Smith said: "I'm grateful that my name has finally been
cleared. I've always given South African cricket my utmost, as a player,
captain and administrator over the last 20 years.

"So to hear these baseless allegations of racism being made has been
extremely difficult, both for me and my family.

"It has been exhausting and distracting, not least because South African
cricket has also been going through a well-publicised rebuilding process
which has required a lot of attention.

"I am just pleased that we have now gone through a robust arbitration process
before independent arbitrators and I have been completely vindicated."

The allegations against Smith were made during a Social Justice and Nation
Building process, set up by Cricket South Africa. They were conducted by an
ombudsman who made "tentative findings" that he recommended should be
investigated further.

The claims against Smith were that he showed discrimination against black
wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, preferring to select the white batsman-
wicketkeeper AB de Villiers for series against England, Australia and New
Zealand; that he was racially biased against black leadership at CSA and in
the choice of Mark Boucher as head coach of the national team.

The arbitrators went into detail on all three matters in a 95-page report,
released by CSA on Monday, and exonerated Smith on all three counts. Costs
were awarded in his favour.

David Becker, Smith's attorney, said the former captain had been the target
of "a multitude of opportunistic claims and insinuations made before the SJN
which were not properly tested and which were clearly false."

Becker said the "serious and defamatory" claims had been made "by a small
group of individuals with an obvious agenda to tarnish his good name and have
him removed as director of cricket."

Smith's contract as director of cricket expired at the end of March.

"It is a testimony to his character and leadership that he has held his head
high throughout this process, focused on the job at hand and continued to
play a highly significant role in assisting South African cricket," said
Becker.

CSA board chairman Lawson Naidoo paid tribute to Smith.

"Now that finality on these processes has been reached, it is appropriate to
recognise the extraordinary contribution that Graeme has made to South
African cricket, first as the longest-serving Test captain and then as
director cricket from 2019 to 2022.

"His role as the DOC has been critical in rebuilding the Protea men's team in
particular and has laid a solid foundation for his successor."