DAVID SHAPSHAK,_AFP, Reuters, Durban | Tuesday 7.00pm
SACKED cricket captain Hansie Cronje has apologised for his involvement in a cricket bribery scandal but denied he threw matches during a recent tour to India.
”I wish to apologise to all South Africans, the team, especially the particular players singled out, The United Cricket Broad of South Africa (UCB), the government as well as my wife and family for my involvement in the matter as spelt out,” Cronje said in a statement read out by South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour.
However, confusion reigns about whether he actually received money — for ”detailed information and forecasting” which UCB managing director Ali Bacher told a press conference in Durban Cronje had admitted to him.
Bacher said Cronje, whose contract was immediately suspended and was dropped from the Australian three match series starting on Wednesday, took $10000 to $15000 for ”providing information and forecasting” during a triangular series in South Africa but not while he was in India.
”We do have a crisis on our hands in South African cricket,” a visibly drained Bacher told a press conference in Durban where the Proteas are preparing for the first of the one-day matches.
Bacher said Cronje ”denies deliberately trying to lose a match (and) he hasn’t spoken about deliberately trying to influence the outcome of a match”.
He said Cronje took the money ”on only one occasion” during the triangular series against England and Zimbabwe in January and February.
”During triangular one day series in South Africa, contact made with him by a local South African [businessman] and a bookmaker of Indian origin based in London. Discussions took place and the end result was that Hansie was given between $10000 to $15000 which he took home but as of today he has not deposited this but did receive the money.”
Balfour, however, said: ”We will not comment on it. As far as we know, Hansie came to see me and (Deputy Foreign Minister) Aziz Pahad as government ministers…and this is what we know.”
UCB president Percy Sonn, who Cronje also phoned at 3am on Tuesday morning along with Bacher, told a press conference he had advised Cronje to speak to his lawyers — which might explain the contradictory statements.
Through Balfour, Cronje admitted to speaking to bookmakers but reiterated claims made earlier by Bacher that he threw any matches, nor took money during last month’s trip to India.
”I mentioned names of players, but in fact I never spoke to a single player about throwing a match. I never received any financial rewards,” Balfour told a press conference in Cape Town, while the 30-year-old skipper sat silently and somberly next to the minister. ”Allegations of match-fixing by myself are devoid of all truth.”
Bacher said although Cronje was harassed continually by bookmakers during the recent tour to India, he never received any further money.
Cronje’s startling admission comes after days of his vehemently denying charges of match-fixing and a near diplomatic row between the South African and Indian governments after Friday’s shock allegations that Cronje and three other players were being investigating by indian police for match-rigging. Cronje’s disclosure reportedly came after he called his pastor, Ray McCauley, early on Tuesday and then faxed him a nine-page letter in which he explained what had happened and admitted making a terrible mistake.