The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday it would do everything possible to ensure South African stars Nicky Boje and Herschelle Gibbs could tour India without fear of arrest in a match-fixing case.
Dave Richardson, head of the ICC’s cricket operations, said the world body would try to ensure the duo would not be detained by Indian police over the allegations if they tour for the Champions Trophy tournament in October and November.
”We can only facilitate the process. It is principally a problem of two individual players and they are obviously taking legal advice,” said the former South African wicketkeeper.
”But if we receive a request from the South African cricket board, we are willing to facilitate it,” Richardson said at a function in New Delhi to launch a cricket-ratings site.
Hard-hitting batsman Gibbs and left-arm spinner Boje have not toured India since their alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal in 2000, which is still being investigated by Delhi police.
Both players have not toured India since then as they have failed to obtain any assurance that they will not be detained for questioning.
Implicated in the same scandal was former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, who admitted involvement on his part and was served with a life ban before dying in a plane crash in 2002.
The Champions Trophy will be held from October 7 to November 5 in Mumbai, Mohali, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. — AFP
