Dr Ali Bacher has joined forces with Penguin Books South Africa and Standard Bank on a project to produce his long-awaited authorised biography.
The former executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 and managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa was inspired to agree to the book after playing leading roles in the forefront of South African cricket over four eventful decades.
The biography is being researched and written by Rodney Hartman, a former sports editor of leading South African newspapers and communications director on Bacher's team that organised the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. Standard Bank are providing the sponsorship and Penguin SA will publish and distribute the title in South Africa and abroad through its international partners.
"I am very fortunate that my life has been richly fulfilling, and I have been persuaded to tell my story for the historical record," said Bacher.
"In reaching that decision, I came to the conclusion that the monumental events of the past two decades, in which I was privileged to be involved, must be recorded for the sake of posterity. We owe it to future generations to describe exactly what has transpired during this extraordinary time in SA cricket. I am most grateful to Penguin Books South Africa and Standard Bank for their interest and support in this venture," he added.
In researching the biography, Rodney Hartman will interview a range of personalities who have impacted on Dr Bacher's life. He is working fulltime on the book in order to ensure its publication early in 2004.
Says Hartman, "I have known Dr Bacher for about 30 years and it's a great privilege and challenge to be writing this book. The aim is to give a forthright and honest appraisal, and any views that might conflict with Dr Bacher's will be duly reflected.
"Ali Bacher is far and away the best-known administrator in world cricket and, as such, has been involved in a number of controversial issues and landmark achievements. This book covers the most extraordinary period in the history of South Africa, and its publication will ensure that so many stories, some simple, some profound, will finally be told. To coin a Bacher phrase, 'this is much bigger than cricket'."
