S. African players face life ban under new contract

JOHANNESBURG, APRIL 30. South Africa's cricketers face life bans from the game for consorting with bookmakers under the terms of new player contracts, according to press reports.

The Johannesburg Sunday Times reported: ``the South African players' new contracts contain three pages devoted entirely to all forms of dealing with bookmakers.

``These include a ban on betting, inducing other players to become involved, contriving to influence the result of a game, and receiving money to supply information to bookies and an obligation to report any knowledge of transgression by other players.''

The paper said the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) was ``adamant .... the new contracts leave no room for ambiguity.''

Penalties for breaching the terms of the UCBSA contracts included ``immediate termination of employment'' and ``lifetime bans on those found guilty'' of dealing with bookmakers.

The players signed by the UCBSA, the national squad and fringe players, have been advised by the Board to discuss the contracts with their lawyers.

The new contracts were drawn up after Hansie Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom were charged by Indian police earlier this month with match-fixing during a one- day series South Africa played in India in March. All have denied the charges.

Cronje was subsequently sacked as South Africa's captain after admitting he took between $10,000 and $15,000 from bookmakers for information and forecasting on matches in a triangular tournament with England and Zimbabwe last January.

- Reuters

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Younis Khan, Md. Akram corner glory
Next     : Police probe into poor quality Pak. made balls