Dr. Ali Bacher, Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa
(UCBSA), told the world's press that the UCBSA had been 'deceived' by Hansie
Cronje.
Bacher said:
"After I had spoke to him in the early hours of this morning he phoned the
president (Percy Sonn) at 10 past 3 and repeated the same comments he ahd made to
me. The president and myself met at 3.30 and decided to suspend Hansie.
During the triangular one day series between England, South Africa and Zimbabwe
contact was made with him by a local South African whose name we cannot mention
at this point in time and also with a bookmaker of Indian origin based in london.
Discussions took place and the reults is that Hansie Cronje was given between 10
and 15 thousand US dollars which he took home. As yet he has not deposited the
money. During the tour of India he was harrassed by bookmakers.
He said to us that he had provided forecasts and information. He said to us that
he has not taken part in match fixing and that the three other players are
innocent of the charge.
Let us say that unequivocally we are shattered. The UCB and the government have
been deceived. At 0630 this morning I phoned Mr. Majid the convenor of the
selection board and told him that the captain would not be participating and that
he should contact his selectors to appoint a new captain and maybe a replacement
batsman.
We have been in contact with the Minister of Sport to institute an inquiry. We
have been in contact with David Richards (ICC Chief Executive) and he is fully
aware of the facts.
On Sunday night we said the issues are very very serious. At quarter past one we
went to speak to the national captain and asked all the players to indicate
whether they had ever been part of match fixing or were part of this process, and
all of them including Boje and Gibbs denied any involvement. In conclusion we
said we need all of them to rise above the crisis. Sean Pollock has been made
captain, and he is a player with an immense future and feet on the ground, and we
are confident that he and his team can make the Australia series a good climax to
what has been a very difficult season for South African cricket".
The UCB then answered questions from the press
Bacher: "Hansie did confirm he had
made contact with the parties by phone"
Bacher: "No", in answer to the question: "Did he say why he did it?"
Bacher: "Hansie's contract has been suspended. Hansie will not be offered a new
contract until the investiagation has been completed, and in practical terms he
will not receive a salary from us this month. He has a contract with us that
expires on the 1st of May, but I have suspended that immediately. Next week we
will be announcing for the core players for the next two years and its obvious
his name will not be among them."
Bacher: "At the end of the 1996 tour of India there was an approach from a
bookmaker was taken to a team meeting and was rejected immediately. [The current
offer was made at] South Africa's game v Zimbabwe at the Wanderers."
Percy Sonn: "If there is any suggestion, even if the whole squad has to be
investigated, we'll cooperate with the police."
Bacher also metioned that the UCBSA had not yet seen the transcripts of the
tapes.