MARIANNE MERTEN, Cape Town | Friday 11.45am.
SOUTH African cricketers Pieter Strydom and Henry Williams on Friday cast further doubt over Hansie Cronje’s statement that he never approached any other players to affect the outcome of matches for money.
Strydom told the King Commssion of inquiry that Cronje approached him before the first Test against India in Mumbai with an offer to play badly.
The all-rounder told the Commission that Cronje called him to his room in a “kindhearted manner” saying that he could earn R70000 (about $10000) if South Africa scored less than 250 runs.
Strydom said that he always knew Cronje was a practical joker, adding: “When I walked out of the room, I thought, ‘Oh shit, I passed the test’, and I was actually feeling good about myself”
Strydom told the Commission that after South Africa had lost the match by less than 250 runs, he joked with Cronje: “Shit, Hansie we could have made a lot of money here.”
In the aftermarth of the Indian tour, as the scandal hit headlines, Strydom admitted that he had been in touch with various other players and went on to consult his lawyers.
He informed Cronje that he was not prepared to lie to the Commission, and said: “Hansie said: ‘You can tell them exactly what happened, just don’t mention the money’.”
Earlier on Friday, Williams on Friday told the Commission that Cronje approached him on the morning of the fifth one-day match against India in Nagpur with an offer of money to bowl badly.
Williams’ testimony, which was given in Afrikaans with the aid of an interpreter, confirms Thursday’s testimony by opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs, Williams’ roommate, who said that Cronje offered him $15000 to lose his wicket.
Williams explained to the Commission why he accepted the offer of $15000 from a smiling Hansie: “If he (Cronje) can do something like this why can’t I do it?”
Williams was supposed to have conceded more than 50 runs from his alotted ten overs, but broke down with a shoulder injury after bowling just 1.5 overs and could not complete his spell.
“I was stupid, I should have known better, I want to come clean, I want to clear my name and that’s why I am telling the truth,” Williams told the Commission.
In his testimony, Williams said that Cronje spoke to him during lunch, saying: “The deal is off, we scored 320, we must win the game for SA.”
On Thursday opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs effectively sealed Cronje’s fate when he confessed that he accepted an offer from his former skipper to make less than 20 runs in a one-day match in India in exchange for $15000.
Gibbs also directly contradicted Cronje’s statement that he had not involved nor approached any other players to affect the outcome of matches for money.