It’s final: Boje will not be touring India

Spinner Nicky Boje has withdrawn from South Africa’s two-Test tour to India later this month because he fears being detained over a mat...

Spinner Nicky Boje has withdrawn from South Africa’s two-Test tour to India later this month because he fears being detained over a match-fixing investigation, his lawyer Tony Irish said on Wednesday.

Left-arm spinner Boje, who was named as vice-captain in the tour squad, had wanted an assurance that he would not be detained in connection with the Delhi investigation.

Reports from India on Wednesday said South Africa’s acting High Commissioner in India, Desmond Nxweni, had been unable to obtain such a commitment from Delhi Police Commissioner KK Paul. “We got confirmation today that there was going to be no guarantee or assurance given and Nicky has made his decision,” Irish, who is also chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said.

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Herschelle Gibbs, whom the police also wanted to question in connection with an investigation that began in 2000 when former captain Hansie Cronje’s involvement in match-fixing was exposed, made himself unavailable for selection.

Boje and Gibbs were sent questionnaires by the Indian police last month. Boje answered all the questions and supplied the police with a transcript of the evidence he gave to the King Commission, the South African investigation into match-fixing.

Gibbs complied with his lawyers’ advice that he should not answer the questionnaire. Irish said the cricketer would not travel to India with the threat of detention hanging over him. “It’s sad but it was on the cards all the way along,” Irish said. “They have the right to investigate but he has co-operated fully with their investigation.”