145;Cronje dialled bookie to get 100,000 more146;

Former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje called up a bookie on his mobile as his team looked on to get a better deal for 8220;throwing8221; the Mohinder Amarnath benefit match on December 14, 1996 at Mumbai

Former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje called up a bookie on his mobile as his team looked on to get a better deal for 8220;throwing8221; the Mohinder Amarnath benefit match on December 14, 1996 at Mumbai, opener Herschelle Gibbs has told Delhi Police.

Gibbs, who had just become a South Africa player then, told police that Cronje, who died in a plane crash on June 1, 2002, had offered the entire squad 250,000 first and then 100,000 more to throw that game after calling whom police now say was bookie Mukesh Gupta, who is wanted by police in connection with the case.

But the deal was called off after two senior players objected, Gibbs told police. India, incidentally, won that match by 74 runs with the South Africans folding up for 193 in 46 overs, chasing India8217;s 267 for six in 50 overs.

Senior police officials added that Gibbs came out with the story after it was pointed out that he could face a prision term on conspiracy charges under Indian laws. And his lawyer Peter Whelan, who was present in Delhi at the time of his interrogation, said in Mumbai today that the cricketer would go to Delhi again 8220;if his presence is needed, so that the legal process can move forward.8217;8217;

Answering a volley of questions from police yesterday, Gibbs also confirmed what Cronje had told the King8217;s Commission that probed the scandal in South Africa 8212; the benefit tie, which was converted into an official ODI, was the first game for which Cronje offered his teammates financial inducements to 8220;throw8221;.

8220;Gibbs says that the plan could not go through as two players disapproved of the offer in the team meeting. Gibbs, however, has admitted that he himself did not say no to the offer, he just kept quiet. That makes him guilty of conspiracy,8221; Joint CP Crime Ranjit Narayan said. Senior batsmen Andrew Hudson and Daryll Cullinan were the ones who disapproved of Cronje8217;s offer.

Gibbs has told police that Cronje had made the offer, aware that the team was unhappy that a benefit match had been converted into an official one-day international coming as it did at the fag end of a Test and one-day series. 8220;After a long two-month tour, this match on the eve of our departure did not leave the players pleased. The team was already injury-stricken,8221; Gibbs said.

Story continues below this ad

He added that Cronje first approached individual players during the flight to Mumbai from Kanpur, the venue of the final Test, as well as in the team bus on the way to the hotel. 8220;In Mumbai, he first called a meeting of some senior players to discuss the offer and later in a team meeting, he put the offer to the entire team,8221; Gibbs told police. The opener says the initial offer was for 250,000, with Cronje saying: 8220;Either we all are in it or it is off.8221;

But when Hudson and Cullinan disapproved, Cronje tried to woo the players by increasing the inducement. 8220;He called up someone on the phone and said we could get another 100,000,8221; Gibbs says. But Hudson and Cullinan did not relent.

But Narayan says Gibbs8217; admission that he received an offer and accepted it was enough to prosecute him under Section 120A of the IPC for conspiracy. 8220;That he did not perform as required is not essential to prove the charges,8221; the JCP said.

Reacting to Gibbs8217; admission on the benefit tie, former Indian Test star Mohinder Amarnath said, 8220;I did not see anything amiss. However, I sincerely feel that one should never go down to the level of selling one8217;s country in this manner.8221;

I am innocent, says Crookes

Story continues below this ad

Delhi Police today said they would write to SA authorities to send Nicky Boje, Pieter Strydom and Derek Crookes for questioning to India. However, Crookes, who was the only new name to crop up during Gibbs8217; interrogation yesterday, has claimed he is innocent. 8220;I am shocked that Gibbs has named me. 8220;The only reason I can think of for them wanting to link me in some way to match-fixing is that I opened the bowling on that day8230; Indian Police can rather come here and question me,8221; Crookes is quoted as telling the website, Supersport.

Sending Gibbs mistake: Bacher

Former South African cricket chief Dr Ali Bacher has told The Star newspaper in Johannesburg that it was a big mistake to send Gibbs to India for questioning. 8220;I am not so certain that I would have taken such a risk. Why should we open old wounds, particularly during a world cricket championship,8221; said Bacher. Agencies