A Christian lifestyle newspaper for men, Maksiman, has launched a campaign to have the cricket life ban imposed on former South African captain Hansie Cronje posthumously lifted, Die Burger reported on Tuesday.
The publication, with a large photograph of Cronje on the front page of its July issue, said the lifting of the ban must be seen as a sign of forgiveness.
”Not because Hansie was innocent but rather because he has acknowledged his wrongs and asked for forgiveness,” the paper said.
Cronje died in a plane crash near George on June 1.
The request to have the ban on Cronje lifted was directed to the United Cricket Board.
The publication invited readers to send messages of support for the life ban to be lifted.
The editor of Maksiman, Hennie Stander, said although the publication had only been on the newsstands for a few days, they had already received a lot of support for their request.
Ron Steele, a representative for pastor Ray McCauley’s Rhema Church, said the lifting of the ban on Cronje would be a wonderful gesture. – Sapa