DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Thursday 11.00am.
DISGRACED cricket captain Hansie Cronje has admitted he was first approached by bookmakers in 1995 and took his first cash payment on the tour to India in 1996, but denied he ever threw a match or influenced the outcome.
A humble Cronje dropped numerous bombshells admitting that during the Indian tour to SA in late 1996, early 1997 he had supplied information, team selections and specific details to bookmakers.
He said he had forfeited an innings in the fifth Test against England in Centurion earlier this year at the behest of bookmaker, so that there could be a result in the rain-drenched match. He was paid R50000 and received a leather jacket for this.
However, Cronje said none of the of results during the tour to India earlier this year were fixed.
“No money changed hands in India nor were the results fixed,” he said, adding the Centurion Test was not thrown.
The former skipper admitted had not been honest in his earlier confessions and that he had received death threats.
“I was not honest. I was wrong in succumbing. Worse I encouraged others to be drawn in and cover up,” he said, referring to opener Herschelle Gibbs and bowler Henry Williams whom he offered $15000 each to under-perform in India earlier this year.
He admitted he did it for money. Before the Mandela Cup one-day match against Pakistan in Cape Town in 1995, he said a bookmaker gave “me approximately $30000 in cash but I did not do anything.
This seemed an easy way to make money. I effectively received money for doing nothing”
He later added: “I was also activated by a measure of self-interest”.
He expressed the emotional strain his sacking has caused. “Words can’t begin to describe the pain and humiliation I’m feeling”.
He said he was constantly badgered by London-based bookie Sanjay Chawla in India, and on the morning of the fifth one-day international in Nagpur, he succumbed.
“I gave in. I told him Herschelle Gibbs would score less than 20 runs, Henry Williams would open bowling and we would not score more than 270 runs
“The fifth game was not fixed or thrown. Once we went onto the field we did not follow the plan and I did not influence the outcome.”