Boucher welcomes withdrawal of charges: 'Allegations caused me considerable hurt and anguish'

Proteas coach Mark Boucher has welcomed Cricket South Africa's decision to withdraw all disciplinary charges levelled against him.

The cricket governing body had set a disciplinary hearing for 16 May, with charges that involved racism aired against Boucher.

However, in a massive about-turn, CSA dropped all charges which leaves Boucher free to continue his role as head coach of the national team.

Boucher said in a statement on Tuesday: "I welcome the decision of CSA to unreservedly withdraw all charges against me. The allegations of racism which were levelled against me were unjustified and have caused me considerable hurt and anguish.

"The last few months have been extremely difficult to endure for me and my family. I am glad that the process has finally come to an end and that CSA has accepted that the charges against me are unsustainable."

Charges of racism were lodged against Boucher after Paul Adams, a former team-mate, said at last year's Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings that he had been a victim of racial discrimination during his playing days.

Adams said Boucher would refer to him as "brown s***" during team fines meetings around 20 years ago.

There was also a charge laid against Boucher after Proteas assistant coach Enoch Nkwe resigned last year.

That matter was also supposed to have been a key item in the hearing, with the charge sheet alleging that Boucher "treated Mr. Nkwe in a manner unbecoming of a leader in your position".

 The other charge facing Boucher related to his stance during the Black Lives Matter movement and "allegedly dealing with the white players' 'concerns and requested that the team manager (who is black) deal with the black players’ concerns.

"This allegedly created or exacerbated