Cricket South Africa apologises to the Warners over Sonny Bill Williams taunt

Cricket South Africa chief issues sincere apology after Proteas team officials were pictured posing with fans in Sonny Bill masks.

David Warner and wife Candice arrive in Port Elizabeth with their two daughters.

The president of Cricket South Africa has issued an apology to the Australian team after Proteas team officials were pictured posing with fans who were taunting David Warner and his wife, Candice, by wearing Sonny Bill Williams’ masks.

Clive Eksteen, CSA’s head of commercial and marketing, and Altaaf Kazi, the organisation’s head of communications, were pictured with their arms round each other as they stood next to three men in the masks.

Candice Warner and their two children were at the ground when the incident occurred. She has expressed her regret over an incident with the footballer in a Clovelly hotel 10 years ago. Warner is often taunted by fans over the event and was sanctioned for losing his temper when wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock raised it in the stairwell between dressing rooms during the first Test.

The former triathlete saw the picture on social media while she was at the game.

“On behalf of CSA I extend my sincere apologies to the Board of Cricket Australia (CA), its officials, team management, players and their families,” CSA President Chris Nenzani said in a statement.

The cricket body disowned the actions of the pair in the statement.

“Cricket South Africa wishes to distance itself from the alleged action of certain officials in associating themselves with fans wearing masks representing the face of Sonny Bill Williams, which conduct is seemingly related to the Warner/De Kock incident during the opening day of the second Sunfoil Test match at St. George’s Park,” the statement said.

South African cricket officials Clive Eksteen (left) and Altaaf Kazi (second from left) pose with fans wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks, a slur against David Warner’s wife Candice.

“While CSA respects the rights of its fans to represent their own points of view, CSA does not associate itself with these actions and urges all Protea supporters from refraining from being involved in distasteful or unwelcome actions that may impact the image of the sport and its supporters.

“CSA has taken immediate precautionary steps against the CSA officials allegedly involved in this incident and will follow the organisation’s normal internal processes in this regard.”

The Warners were upset by the latest turn of events which comes just days after another attack on the mother of two by a Proteas player.

South African fans had prepared the masks to taunt Warner but officials had attempted to stop them being brought into the ground out of respect for Candice and their two children who were at the ground.

Those efforts were undone by the pair.

The batsman said this week he endures relentless attacks on his wife from the public but when it was brought up in the first Test he lost control.

“I’ve been called everything under the sun out the field and that, quite frankly, doesn’t bother me,” Warner said between Tests about the de Kock attack on his wife.

“The other day I was probably out of line. I’ve seen the footage and I regret the way it played out but for me _. it is how I am and I responded emotionally and regretted the way I played out. But I’ll always stick up for my family.

“I cop it left, right and centre, especially off the field from spectators. I am used to that and it doesn’t bother me. But in the proximity of my personal space and behind me, a comment that was vile and disgusting and about my wife and just in general about a lady was quite poor, I felt, and as I said my emotional response, you saw, was just something that I don’t believe should have been said. And as I said, I will always stick up for my family. ”