TV bosses refuse to stop Cronje from commentating

By Paul Martin Cainer   in Cape Town

Africa's main providers of cricket broadcasts, the digital satellite channel Supersport, have refused to impose a ban on using disgraced ex-captain Hansie Cronje as a commentator. The United Cricket Board wants no one to hire Cronje -- just as it has ordered suspended star batsman Herschelle Gibbs and bowler Henry Williams not to take any commentary jobs on international cricket.

The difference here it that Gibbs wants to keep on the right side of the cricket bosses, who will have him available to play international matches again from January 1 2001. But it is hard to see how Cronje can be restricted when he has no connection with the UCB any nore.

UCB president Percy Sonn said in an interview with a radio station on Thursday that the UCB is consulting its lawyers on preventing Cronje from taking up a job as a commentator.

"While we do not in any way prescribe to the media, we need to give effect to our decision to exclude Cronje from commentator roles," he said. "We have a good relationship with our sponsors and we would anticipate that they would not want to aggravate us by using him," he was quoted as saying.

Responding to Sonn's remarks, Supersport CEO Heinrich Enslin was quoted in the Business Day newspaper on Thursday as saying that he would not be prescribed to by the UCB on whether to employ Cronje.

South Africans are still reeling from an unexpected decision by the United Cricket Board to impose a life ban on Cronje.

Soon after the match-fixing scandal broke, Cronje stated he would never again take part in cricket as player or administrator. But of late he has been making efforts to find moral acceptability, not least by stage-managing a meeting and a photo-opportunity with the world's greatest moral icon, ex-President Nelson Mandela. The former president said Cronje should not be treated as a leper.

Sonn also said, in his interview, that the life ban was to serve as a deterent to others who bring disgrace to the game.

Cricket supporters across the country on Thursday expressed shock and disappointment at what some regard as the "extremely harsh" ban slapped on Cronje by the United Cricket Board.

The ban, which forbids Cronje from participating in the sport at any level, has dashed any hopes that Cronje had of getting involved in coaching and development of cricket in his bid to make amends for having lied and accepted money for match-fixing.

In addition to banning him for life from playing crickiet at any level, it also bars him from any coaching role. He may also not act as a selector, marketer or administrator.

Since last night, news orgnaisations say they have received e-mails from irate fans saying that the UCB has overstepped the mark.

"They have already crucified him, now they are driving in the nails even harder," one reader wrote.

Another accused the UCB of being "petty-minded" and said Cronje had not murdered or raped anyone, nor has he been convicted in any court.

"Despite this, the UCB has effectively outlawed him and and prevented him from earning a living, while many of those in government who have committed massive fraud are rewarded with huge golden handshakes," he says.

Cronje now has a week in which to make representations to the UCB on the ban.

An official statement from the SA cricket team at the ICC knock-out in Nairobi is expected later on Friday. The King Commission hearing will eventually resume next month, with Cronje recalled to the witness stand.

Mail Cricket Editor