April 7
Delhi police charge Hansie Cronje with fixing the one day matches played against India in March for money. They also release transcripts of an aleged conversation between Cronje and an Indian businessman, suggested to be a bookie, Sanjay Chawla. The transcripts deal with who is playing and who is not, who is in the `deal', the amount alleged to be paid to Cronje and his teammates Gibbs, Strydon and Boje. Similar charges are made against two Indians, Chawla and Delhi based businessman Rajesh Kalra, who is arrested. Chawla is reported to be in London.
New Delhi additional commissioner KK Paul states categorically that ``from the conversation between Sanjay Chawla and Cronje, it emerges the one day matches between India and South Africa played recently in India were fixed in exchange for money.'' Paul adds that ``we will seek the help of Interpol as a huge international crime has been committed.''
In Johannesburg, UCBSA chief Ali Bacher comes to Cronje's defence, saying that he is convinced there was no substance in the reports from India. ``Cronje is known for his unquestionable integrity and honesty,'' says Bacher, adding that he has spoken to the captain immediately he had heard about the allegations from New Delhi. ``He says it is absolute rubbish. There is nothing at all in it. The UCBSA is certain that no South African cricketer has ever been involved in match fixing,'' he says in a statement. He further adds that all the other players deny emphatically that there is any substance to these allegations.
Cronje in a statement through the UCBSA states: ``I have been informed of the developments and I am stunned. The allegations are completely without substance. I have been privileged to play for South Africa since 1992 and I want to ensure every South African that I have made a hundred percent effort to win every match that I have played. It has been an honour to play for South Africa and I would never do anything to let my country down.
ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, in Dhaka for the Asia XI-Rest of the World XI match being held as part of the Cricket Week celebrations, reacting to the developments says ``if there is any grey side to it, we will take care of it. We have our own way of working. We will cross the bridge when we come to it.''
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