Graham Ford, South Africa's coach, has been sacked by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). Ford's contract had been due to run until the end of next year's World Cup, but came under review after South Africa lost 5-1 in a disastrous one-day series against Australia earlier this year.

Ford told the SAPA news agency he had received a call from UCBSA chief executive officer Gerald Majola informing him of his dismissal.

"I haven't officially been given the reasons yet but to be honest, I'm not surprised at all. Maybe my opinions did not quite gel with the opinions of others.

"I'm not saying my opinions are always right, of course. But if you stand firm, you're always going to run into opposition," he said. "Obviously I'm hurt. I've given 100 per cent."

Prior to his team's defeat to Australia, Ford had not lost a series.

"Memories are quite short. This was my 10th series and I won the other nine."

However, he added that the death of former captain Hansie Cronje in a plane crash had put his situation into perspective.

"It's fairly small when you think about it. It's not nearly as serious as death."

The board meanwhile announced it had offered contracts to 21 players.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd