South African Players Support Coach Mark Boucher, Says Captain Dean Elgar

South African cricket captain Dean Elgar said on Wednesday that his players supported head coach Mark Boucher, who faces a disciplinary process on charges of racism that could result in his dismissal. Elgar was non-committal about whether he personally would testify in Boucher's defence in hearings which have been delayed until May because Boucher intends to call some current players to testify. It was announced on Tuesday that the hearings would be delayed until South Africa has completed a tour of New Zealand and an incoming tour by Bangladesh.

"It was news to me that that's the process," he told a departure press conference ahead of the two-Test tour of New Zealand.

"As a player you don't have much control over that. It's something we are going to have to chat about as a group. Whether or not it's going to affect the team, I doubt it. This process has been in the air for quite some time now.

"We had a feeling that it might come to this point that players might be asked to testify. I'm sure we'll cover those grounds in the next month."

Elgar said he expected the South African Cricketers' Association, which represents the players, to assist players regarding the process.

Asked whether the Boucher issue was something that would be "hanging over" the players or whether it would galvanise them, Elgar said, "I'd like to think the latter. Of late we've had these experiences that we've had to deal with as a players' group. If anything it's really helped us.

"We've realised cricket comes first for us. We know what the head coach is going through and we are supporting him because we know how much value he adds to our system and our group."

It was announced earlier that new batting star Keegan Petersen was ruled out of the New