UCBSA stands behind Koertzen

EAST LONDON -- The United Cricket Board of South Africa are standing firm: Controversial second Test umpire Rudi Koertzen will officiate in the fifth and final international at Centurion Park as scheduled.

Suggestions the UCB may be pressured into replacing Koertzen were yesterday dismissed out of hand by board managing director Ali Bacher.

"I have only just returned from Barbados," said Bacher, "so I am not fully conversant with what occurred in Port Elizabeth, but we will not countenance any suggestion of altering any of our appointed officials. Koertzen will stand at Centurion Park."

Bacher said that as far as he is concerned Koertzen is a very good, solid umpire.

"Koertzen won't be the first or the last to possibly make a mistake, but the players must also realise what pressure the umpires are under out there," he added.

"Nobody walks, everybody appeals and most of those who criticise have the benefit of TV slow-motion," he said.

Regarding the latter, or rather the lack thereof, when it came to the third umpire's ruling in favour of batsman Jacques Kallis in Port Elizabeth, Bacher said he would be meeting with SABC TV personnel tomorrow to discuss the problem. -- Sapa