M A I N   N E W S

Cronje implicates Azhar again

CAPE TOWN, June 23 (PTI) — In yet another twist to the match-fixing scandal, disgraced South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje said today Mohammed Azharuddin may have been “involved” with the Indian bookie Mukesh Gupta.

During his cross-examination before the King Commission going into betting and match-fixing allegations, Cronje had deposed yesterday that he had no reason to believe that Azharuddin knew of his dealings with Gupta after he had introduced him.

At the resumed hearing today, the lawyer for the United Cricket Board (UCB) of South Africa Brendon Manca asked Cronje whether he did not think it was strange that the person Azharuddin had introduced to him had just handed $ 30,000 to him and asked to fix a match.

Cronje replied: “He (Azharuddin) could have been involved with Mr Gupta but I didn’t for any reason think he was doing business with Mr Gupta at all.”

The former South African captain later went on to say: “If he is the one who has introduced me then he can also do business with Mr Gupta.”

After spending more than 10 hours in the last three days on the witness stand, Cronje’s testimony ended this afternoon but he was told that he could be recalled for further questioning.

An emotionally-charged Cronje broke down and was led out of the commission room by a minder and his brother Frans.

Cronje ended his evidence with a promise to use his illicit gains to mend the harm he had done to the sport and the country.

“I hope I can put the money to good use to try to redress the wrongs I have done to my game and my country,” said Cronje, who has admitted taking money from bookmakers.

During three days of evidence, Cronje admitted he tried to cheat two team mates who did take his offers of $ 15,000 each to influence a match in India earlier this year.

“It was the worst thing that happened,” he said of the offer to the two rising international cricketers who did not eventually take up the offer.

King is due to hand his report and recommendations to President Thabo Mbeki by June 30.

AFP adds: But, “if they could get to me, they could get to anyone,” Cronje admitted referring to bookmakers and match-fixers.

Cronje also admitted that he had tried to shortchange his teammates who were to receive amounts from a bookmaker to underperform during the tour to India earlier this year.

“May be, I was trying to cut something for myself,” Cronje said when a discrepancy was pointed out between the amounts of money he apparently asked on behalf of the players and what he was seeking from bookmaker Sanjiv “Sanjay” Chawla during a one-day series in India in March.

King interjected: “Let’s be realistic, that is what you were doing.” Cronje agreed that was possible.

Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams both testified earlier in the hearing that they had been offered $ 15,000 to play badly.

On the transcript of a taped telephone recording, Cronje asked Sanjay for “25” for each player and “140” as a total amount for himself.

He admitted the amounts referred to thousands of dollars.