Cassim offers cooperation to probe panel

DURBAN, APRIL 14. The `mystery' third man in the match fixing scandal, Hamid `Banjo' Cassim, today offered his full cooperation to the judicial commission proposed to be set up by the South African Government to investigate the allegations against sacked captain Hansie Cronje.

A South African newspaper yesterday named Cassim as the mystery third man in the scandal and that he had links with Indian cricketers - Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar, both of whom had rejected the report. The Indian cricket coach, Kapil Dev, when contacted in the U.S., said he knew Cassim. ``He used to bring food for Indian players when we went there in 1991-92,'' he told PTI.

Cassim informed the South African Cricket Board, through his lawyers, that he would offer his full cooperation to the commission of judicial inquiry being set up, but refused to answer any queries from the media.

Meanwhile, the South African Sports Minister, Mr. Ngconde Balfour, announced that the probe into the entire affair ``would also investigate any other instances of dishonesty in South African cricket''.

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Section  : International
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