SA team rallies behind Cronje

DURBAN, APRIL 14The South African cricket team has rallied behind sacked skipper Hansie Cronje with his successor Shaun Pollock declaring that the entire team was with him.

Pollock, who took over after Cronje was fired following his admission to being ``dishonest'' about the betting and match- fixing allegations, dedicated the victory against Australia in the first one-day tie here on Wednesday to his disgraced predecessor.

``We are totally behind Hansie because we believe anyone can make a mistake. After all Hansie is a human being. We

cannot reject him because he has made a mistake,'' Pollock said after the impressive six-wicket victory in the first of the three games.

Cronje, who has admitted to receiving money from a bookie but denied involvement in match-fixing, apologised to his

family, fans and country for letting them down. The South African cabinet has expressed full support for the institution of a commission of inquiry probe allegations of match-fixing against Cronje and other players.

``The commission which should be headed by a judge will

have to look at all aspects of what is happening,'' Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Aziz Pahad told a press conference yesterday. Mr. Pahad said the South African government would extend full cooperation to their Indian counterparts in the investigations in the betting and match-fixing scandal during South Africa's one- day series in India last month.

South African President Mr.Thabo Mbeki has directed the ministries concerned ``to ensure no stone is left unturned to get to the bottom of it,'' the minister said. A foreign affairs department spokesman said the final decision on any request by the Indian government on Cronje's extradition in the Delhi police case would be taken by Mbeki in accordance with the extradition act of 1995.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Hyderabad sitting pretty
Next     : Three from Kerala selected for NCA