Gibbs dropped from team after confession

JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 9. The South African cricket team's opening batsman, Herschelle Gibbs, was today ruled out of next month's Sri Lanka tour after admitting he had accepted a bribe to under- perform in a one-day international match in India.

In a statement, the United Cricket Board of South Africa said the Gibbs would not be selected for the tour and would also face a disciplinary hearing, but would continue to receive his full salary in the interim.

On Thursday, Gibbs dropped a bombshell when he told the commission of inquiry into corruption in South African cricket that the former captain, Hansie Cronje, had offered him $ 15,000 to go out for for less than 20 runs in a match against India in Nagpur on March 19.

Williams, Strydom 'confess'

In another development, Gibbs' colleague, Pieter Strydom revealed today that he too had been offered money by Cronje before the first Test against India in Mumbai in February.

Strydom's admission to the Commission of Inquiry came as a new revelation after fast bowler Henry Williams confessed that Gibbs' statement on Thursday was correct.

Neither received any money because Cronje's alleged promises to an Indian bookmaker were not fulfilled. Strydom is one of the four players charged with match-fixing by the Delhi police, along with Cronje, Gibbs and Nicky Boje.

Denying that he had been involved in any manipulation of matches during the one-day series in India, Strydom said Cronje had called him to his room before the Mumbai test. ``Hansie said I could make 70,000 rand ($ 10,000) if South Africa got less than 250 in the first innings (of the test). I said no - but that if I had played 80 or 90 tests I might consider it.'' Strydom said he knew Cronje to be ``a bit of a practical joker''. He said: ``As I left the room I thought maybe I had passed some sort of test.''

Later Cronje nudged him after a practice session and said ``how about 140,000 rand ($ 20,000)?'' After the match Strydom had joked with Cronje that if they had accepted the offer they could have made a lot of money. South Africa made only 176 in the first innings but went on to win the match. He also revealed that Cronje had asked him during the Test against England at Centurion Park in January what the odds would be on South Africa winning.

Earlier, Henry Williams followed Gibbs in admitting that he accepted an offer of money from Cronje. He said he had emerged from the bathroom of the hotel room he shared with Gibbs to find Cronje talking to Gibbs. He was offered $ 15,000 if he conceded more than 50 runs. ``I had great respect for Mr. Cronje. I thought if he can do something like this why can't I?'' Williams admitted. ``It was not right. I was stupid, I should have known better.''

After Gibbs scored 74 and South Africa made 320, above the 270 that Cronje allegedly told the bookmaker would be the total, the captain went to Williams and told him the deal was off. He received no money.

- AFP

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