OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 12.30pm
THE United Cricket Board of South Africa pulled skipper Hansie Cronje out of a one-day series against Australia on Tuesday after he admitted having been “dishonest” with the board over his activities in India last month, board managing director Ali Bacher said.
Bacher said he and board president Percy Sonn received a call from Cronje at 3:30am on Tuesday to say he has been dishonest with the board regarding his activities in India.
“As a consequence, the UCB decided to withdraw Cronje from the South African team for Wednesday’s limited-over match against Australia in Durban,” he said, adding that a press conference would be held in Durban to provide further details.
Board spokeswoman Bronwyn Wilkinson said that Cronje himself offered to withdraw from the three matches, adding that he wouldn’t play in any of them.
A source within the South African cricket camp said it is understood that Cronje admitted receiving money in India last month but that he continues to deny he was involved in match-fixing.
Indian police levelled sensational match-fixing allegations last Friday against Cronje and three other team members following last month’s one-day series there, which India won 3-2.
New Delhi Additional Police Commissioner K. K. Paul said charges of criminal conspiracy, fraud and match-fixing have been registered against Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom.
“We will seek the help of Interpol as a huge international crime has been committed,” Paul said.
Similar charges have been filed against two Indians and one of them, Delhi- based businessman Rajesh Kalra, has already been arrested, a police source said.
The other was identified as Sanjiv Chawla, an Indian settled in London.
Bacher said he couldn’t comment on any involvment or action to be taken against the three other players named by New Delhi police.
The captaincy for the one-day series against Australia will be taken over by vice-captain Shaun Pollock, Wilkinson said, adding that veteran all- rounder Dave Callaghan is being flown to Durban to replace Cronje in the squad.
On Tuesday morning, it was speculated that Cronje is in Pretoria meeting meet Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad.
Pahad made South Africa’s first formal request to India for a copy of the tapes which allegedly implicate Cronje and three other players in match-fixing.
This came as both country’s moved to avoid a diplomatic row after Indian police said they had gathered fresh evidence to shore up their case against Cronje.
“We believe we now have sufficient evidence in this case but it is for the courts to decide,” New Delhi Crime Branch chief Pradeep Srivastava said, describing additional evidence obtained by the police as “clinching.” — AFP