da prosport bet： Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup in SouthAfrica in 2003, today received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from theUniversity of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg
Rodney Hartman30-Nov-2001Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup in SouthAfrica in 2003, today received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from theUniversity of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.”It is no exaggeration to say that he is today the best-known cricketadministrator in the world,” the citation noted.The honorary doctorate was conferred on him by Prof Norma Reid, thevice-chancellor and principal, during a Health Sciences graduation ceremonyin the university’s Great Hall.Dr Bacher graduated as a medical doctor from Wits University in 1967 andpractised medicine for a decade before becoming South Africa’s firstfulltime cricket administrator and the United Cricket Board’s first managingdirector.The university said Dr Bacher had been central to the momentous changes inSA cricket. “His role … was often controversial, but throughout he wasguided by an abiding concern to protect and promote the game he loves.”In his acceptance speech, Dr Bacher said it had been his privilege to beexposed to some truly great South Africans, among them Nelson Mandela,Desmond Tutu and Thabo Mbeki, and was immensely struck by their spirit ofgenuine reconciliation and complete willingness to forgive their previousoppressors.”In this way they gave white South Africans, including myself, thereassurance that we had a real future in a non-racial democratic SouthAfrica. What a lesson that was to me, to all of us.”He implored young South Africans to stay in this country and build a strongand healthy nation. “My heartfelt appeal to you is that you understand thatthe destiny of this country lies in your hands. I ask you not to leave thiscountry, but rather build on what you have already achieved, remainstaunchly committed to South Africa and ensure that together we build aprosperous and successful and peaceful country.”