OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Thursday 1.35pm
ENGLAND captain Nasser Hussain says only half the story of the scandal in South African cricket has come to light.
Hussain told BBC Televison on Wednesday he was shocked to hear that sacked South African captain Hansie Cronje admitted taking money from a bookmaker.
”I’ve got to know Hansie very well during the course of the winter,” said Hussain, who led England on their recent tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
”However, only half the story has come out. Perhaps he’s been unfortunate or perhaps he’s done something more sinister. It’s been a very bad week for cricket if that’s the case.
”It’s more than just an admission, but who it comes from still seems unbelievable.”
England’s victory at Centurion Park, Pretoria, in the final Test of their 2-1 series defeat to South Africa has come under scrutiny from investigators probing match-fixing allegations.
The January Test ended in high drama after the middle three days had been washed out. At Cronje’s suggestion both captains forfeited an innings to make it possible to avoid a draw.
In the event England won by two wickets in a match hailed at the time as a ground-breaking result for cricket. Cronje was praised for his bold stance. South Africa won the series 2-1.
Hussain said it is very easy for the captain of a cricket team to influence the result of match.
”As a captain it’s very easy to fix things,” he said. ”You are in charge of the game and tactically all the decisions are yours.
”As a batsman it’s even easier. How do you decide whether someone had a bad day or they got out on purpose?” The England captain said he has never been offered money to throw a game. ”I’ve heard the rumours, but luckily the England cricket team don’t play that much in Asia where the problems seem at their worst. — Reuters