Gerald Majola is to succeed Ali Bacher as Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa. Majola, 41, will be the first black holder of the chief executive officer position when he takes over in January.

Bacher will then lead the preparations for the World Cup 2003, to be held in South Africa.

Majola, who played for Eastern Province and is on the selection panel for the national team, said: "I'm well aware of what lies ahead, namely the restoring of the image of cricket and the transformation of the game in South Africa without a lowering of standards.

"But I'm excited about representing all South Africans in our common drive to take South African cricket forward."

Bacher has been in charge of the UCBSA since it was formed in 1991. But the image of cricket in the republic was damaged this year when Hansie Cronje was sacked as captain after admitting that he received money from bookmakers in return for match information.

Bacher said: "I have absolute confidence that Gerald will do South African cricket proud and he knows that he has my full support.

"I know, too, that he will steer cricket's transformation in the right direction, without lowering its high standards."

© CricInfo Ltd.