Pollock dedicates victory to Cronje

DURBAN, APRIL 14: The South African cricket team has rallied behind sacked skipper Hansie Cronje with his successor Shaun Pollock declarin...

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

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 to probe allegations of match-fixing against Cronje and other players.

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“The commission which should be headed by a judge will have to look at all aspects of what is happening,” Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told a press conference on Thursday.

Pahad said, the South African Government would extend full co-operation to their Indian counterparts in the investigations into the betting and match-fixing scandal during South Africa’s one-day series in India last month.

South African President 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.

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He said since there was no extradition treaty between the two countries, Mbeki would ask the Justice ministry to set up a magisterial inquiry to determine whether the offense is extraditable.

“Once the court pronounces its decision, the Justice Ministry shall implement it. If the magisterial inquiry finds the offense extraditable, then a warrant of arrest will be issued. The whole process has appeal mechanisms,” he added.