Cronje faces five-year ban as ICC clamps hard on dishonesty

Johannesburg: For those hoping for a sight of Hansie Cronje in Durban on Saturday when Shaun Pollock gets married, are likely to be disappointed as the disgraced former captain, now facing a five-year ban, would not turn up to embarrass the all-rounder who has now assumed command of the side.

And the name of the name of the judge to handle the South African government's probe into Cronjegate is expected to be announced today by the ministries of sport and justice. This could be about the time the United Cricket Board's acting president, Percy Sonn, and Dr Ali Bacher, the managing director inform the media of the seriousness of the ramifications of the International Cricket Council's tough new measures.

Cronje's admission of taking what amounted to $8 200 could see him become the first player to be banned for upward of five years under the International Cricket Council's tough new measures. An examination of the measures show that players could be banned for five year if they have been found guilty of receiving money or other rewards for providing information on the weather, teams, state of the ground, the status or outcome of the match. The five year ban also involves those found to have bet on a match, or a series of matches or inducing other players to bet on a match or a series of matches.

Cronje, who admitted to Dr Bacher he had "not been entirely honest" at 3.10am on April 11, had been earlier charged by New Delhi police along with Nicky Boje, Herschelle Gibbs and Pieter Strydom of "match fixing". The five year ban also involves those found guilty of gambling or entering into other form of financial speculation on any match or event or inducing others to gamble or enter into any other form of financial speculation on a match or event.

Although there has been no official word on the name of the judge to handle South Africa's commission of inquiry, unconfirmed reports from Cape Town last night described him as an eminent judge by the name of Edwin King.

A Department of Justice official became coy last night when asked to confirm the appointment but admitted the probes are to start as soon a possible.

"We do not have a lot of time available and we need to have the report ready by the end of May," Dr Bacher admitted at the weekend before heading for London. The South African inquiry is one of several taking place.

Although he declined to reveal his source of information, the ICC Chief executive David Richards, said he "had been assured that a very eminent judge to head the enquiry..."

In another move the ICC have asked all boards to be ready to deal with any evidence that will emanate from their individual inquiries and as part of the plan to curb the dishonesty practice all Test and LOI players, umpires, match-referees, team managers and coaches, administrator and employees are to sign a declaration saying if they had been approached regard to "sell such information" which would benefit a third party.

In another bold step the ICC are to launch their own independent anti-corruption investigation unit, the leader of who will is likely to be a prominent law figure; the ICC to appoint. This unit is to report to Lord Griffiths, the chairman of the ICC's existing Code of Conduct.