Gibbs, Williams banned till Dec 31

Johannesburg, August 28: The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) on Monday banned Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams from intern...

Johannesburg, August 28: The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) on Monday banned Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams from international cricket until December 31 for their role in the Hansie Cronje scandal.

Michael Kuper, a member of the three-man UCBSA disciplinary committee, said the sentences were designed to balance the interests of the players and of the game.

He said the panel took account of the influence Cronje had over the younger players and of the fact that they did not deliver the promised under performance and were never paid.

Story continues below this ad

A third player, Pieter Strydom, was acquitted of conspiring to bet on the outcome of the Centurion Park test against England in January.

“The reason that they were not banned from provincial cricket is that in the case of Gibbs he was on the threshold of a glittering international career which has now been disrupted by his own action,” Kuper said.

“We have given proper consideration to the rules of the ICC (International Cricket Council), but felt that the imposition of a life ban would go beyond what is fair and proper under these circumstances.

“We tried to strike a balance between taking into account the interests of cricket and of the players,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

Gibbs was ordered to pay a 60,000 rand ($8,645) fine by October 31 and Williams was fined 10,000 rand ($1,439).

UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher said after the penalties were announced that the mitigating factors were important.

“The ultimate findings were unanimous by three top legal experts in South Africa. Who are we to dispute this?" he added.

Bacher said he spoke to the two players, who did not attend Monday’s announcement.

Story continues below this ad

“Henry Williams found the sentence fair and also said it was a very stressful period in his life and that he was looking forward to starting afresh,” Bacher said.

Gibbs said in a statement he was grateful both to be allowed to continue to play cricket at a provincial level and to be able to hope for selection for the National side next year.

“I am obviously bitterly disappointed,” he said.

“Since April, my life has been in complete turmoil and I believe the past four months have been the worst of my life.

“I have obviously had an opportunity of reflecting on my actions in Nagpur and have come to appreciate fully my stupidity.

Story continues below this ad

“I can but once again apologise to the South African public in general and in particular to my team mates, the United Cricket Board and its managing director Dr Ali Bacher.

He added: “I have learned my lesson and I hope sincerely that my experience will serve as a reminder to anyone who finds himself in a similar situation,” he said.

If Gibbs and Williams pay their fines they could be eligible for selection for a South African tour to the West Indies next year, but they will miss series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka later this year.

Cronje has been suspended from the game, but will hear what formal penalties he will face after the end of a government-appointed inquiry into his activities as captain.