The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today confirmed that its long-serving chief executive, Tony Irish, will step down from the position at the end of December 2019. Irish, who was instrumental in establishing SACA in 2002, has led the players association for the past 17 years.
Irish is also currently the Executive Chairman of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, the global players’ body in cricket, and Non-Executive Vice-President of the World Players Association, the organisation which brings together players and athletes from multiple sports around the world. He was formerly the Non-Executive Chairman of My Players and the South African Rugby Players Association.
Irish will, with effect from January 2020, take up the position of chief executive of the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA), the players’ association representing the professional cricketers of England and Wales.
Over the next four months, and before Irish’s departure, SACA will make the necessary decisions around a chief executive succession plan.
SACA is the players’ union of South Africa’s professional cricketers. It represents 311 current players comprising the Proteas (men and women) teams, the franchise teams and the provincial teams. It is run by the players, for the players and is the collective voice of South Africa’s professional cricketers.