Hansie's fall: a nation mourns

Fired South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje's bombshell admission that he accepted about R99 000 from a bookmaker earlier this year has been greeted by shock, disappointment and anger.

Disbelieving fans inundated newspaper and radio station switchboards as Cronje finally ended four days of denial and speculation sparked by Indian police filing match-rigging charges against Cronje and three team-mates on Friday.

In pubs, shops and offices around the country on Tuesday, the sense of betrayal was tangible.

Tuesday's drama began at 3am when Cronje, after sending a nine-page declaration of repentance to the Rhema Church's Pastor Ray McCauley, called United Cricket Board of SA managing director Dr Ali Bacher, who was at a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with Australian cricket officials.

According to Bacher, Cronje told him: "During the triangular one-day series in South Africa between Zimbabwe, England and South Africa, contact was made with him by a local South African (I will not mention his name at this point in time) and a bookmaker of Indian origin based in London.

"Discussions took place and the end result of this in South Africa is as follows: that Hansie Cronje was given between $10 000 and $15 000 (about R66 000 and R99 000), which he took home, and as of today he has not deposited the money or put it into an account. But he did receive that money.

"During the tour of India he was harassed continually by bookmakers. He conveyed to both the president and myself that he was not and has never been party to match-fixing."

Cronje then spoke to acting UCB president Percy Sonn, who, together with an angry Bacher, decided to relieve Cronje of the captaincy and his place in the team for the three-match limited-overs series against Australia, starting in Durban on Wednesday.

Neither the UCB nor Cronje revealed what the payment was for. Cronje has continued to deny, however, that he was involved in match-fixing during the recent tour of India.

Later on Tuesday, Cronje met Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour in Cape Town. In a statement read by Balfour on Cronje's behalf, the sacked cricket captain said: "Earlier this year, I was contacted by a South African during the series with England and Zimbabwe, which was about three weeks before the tour to India. While I was in India, I was again contacted.

"I mentioned names of players, but in fact I never spoke to a single player about throwing a match. I never received any financial rewards. For the sake of my Christian conviction, I have decided to reveal my involvement in this matter."

Cronje admitted he had not been honest regarding allegations of match-fixing.

At his family home in Bloemfontein, his father, former provincial cricketer Ewie Cronje, said: "Hansie remains our son. We will support him whatever happens."

The older Cronje said he had not yet spoken to his son, but expressed his admiration for his courage.

"I admire him. Of his own accord, he revealed that he had spoken to these guys and accepted money.

"What is encouraging is that we've been inundated with calls and faxes from prominent people offering their support."

The apology, however, does not bring an end to the matter. Indian police have vowed to press ahead with their action against Cronje. They said his dismissal vindicated their decision. South Africa can also still hand over the disgraced captain to authorities in India, where, if convicted, he faces a prison sentence.

The UCB has urged the government to launch an urgent, independent inquiry.

News of Cronje's admission was bittersweet for India's high commissioner to Pretoria, Harsh Bhasin. He said it vindicated the maligned Indian authorities.

"The reports in the media here over the past few days and the statements of the UCB cast doubts on the professionalism of the Indian police and investigating authorities. The authorities have now been vindicated and I am happy that they did their work properly."

But far from gloating, Bhasin said: "It is a big blow to cricket and a sad day for all cricket-loving nations. Hansie Cronje did not only have a large fan-following here in South Africa, he also had many fans in India who are equally devastated by the news."