/ 19 April 2000

CRONJE JUDGE TO BE APPOINTED SOON

THE United Cricket Board of South Africa was still waiting on Monday for a judge to be appointed to conduct an inquiry into cricket’s betting and match-fixing scandal. Managing director Ali Bacher said he remains confident an announcement will be made this week and that the inquiry will be completed by the end of May. Bacher said he hopes the inquiry’s hearings would be held in public. “But it will be up to the judge. If he feels he is more likely to get to the truth by holding hearings in camera it will be his choice. What is essential is that the full findings must be made public. Everything must come out.” The inquiry will be instituted by the South African government, through the departments of sport and justice. Meanwhile, Bacher said the UCB fully supports a special meeting of the International Cricket Council to be held in London in early May. According to an ICC statement the meeting is “to respond to the current crisis arising from allegations against sveral players.” “As a member of the ICC executive I have to admit the issue has not been debated enough in the past,” said Bacher. The UCB dumped skipper Hansie Cronje last week when he confessed to having taken money in exchange for information, days after Indian police alleged he was part of a match-fixing ring along with team-mates Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom.