Pretoria | Wednesday
THE Pretoria High Court on Wednesday partially turned down an application by former national cricket captain Hansie Cronje to overturn a life ban imposed on him by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA).
The UCBSA imposed the ban on Cronje in November last year after his involvement in matchfixing surfaced.
He admitted to the King Commission of inquiry into cricket matchfixing he had received over $100 000 from bookmakers and had bribed two teammates — Henry Williams and Herschelle Gibbs – to underperform in a one-day international against India.
In terms of the ban, the UCBSA and its affiliates decided not to associate with the disgraced skipper any longer.
Judge Frank Kirk-Cohen ruled, however, that the UCBSA was not allowed to prevent Cronje from coaching, sponsoring or promoting cricket at schools not affiliated to the UCBSA.
He also prohibited the UCBSA from preventing Cronje from securing employment anywhere except for the board itself or its affiliates.
The judge ruled that the ban applied to the press box and broadcasting facilities at cricket grounds. Cronje may, however, apply for accreditation to use these facilities and the UCBSA would have to consider it. The decision would be at its sole discretion.
The judge ordered Cronje to pay half the UCBSA’s legal costs. – Sapa