Cronje challenge to ban to go ahead

A Tuesday night meeting between lawyers representing the United Cricket Board and banned former captain Hansie Cronje ended without a settlement being reached and Cronje's challenge to his life ban in the Pretoria High Court will go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday.

Cronje, banned from cricket for life last November for his role in the match-fixing scandal is contesting the ban on the grounds that he was not given a fair hearing by a UCB disciplinary committee and that the ban affects his ability to earn a livelihood.

There is a body of opinion which believes that Cronje may well have case in terms of the UCB's disciplinary procedures and that the ban, or at least some of its terms, may well be overturned.

In which case the UCB would find itself in an invidious position. It is known that the International Cricket Council would take an extremely dim view of Cronje returning to cricket in any official capacity. In some respects the ICC's position in the battle against match-fixing echoes George W. Bush's "War on Terrorism" - you're either for us or against us.

If Cronje returns to cricket, possible sanctions against South Africa could include suspension or expulsion from cricket's governing body or losing the right to stage the 2003 World Cup.

At least some of Cronje's argument is based on what he describes as "malice" shown to him by the UCB president Percy Sonn, who was widely quoted at point as saying that Cronje "should not even be allowed to play beach cricket". This remark seems now to have come back to haunt Sonn.

Cronje also claims that the ban prevents him from such activities as coaching young players.

Even if the ban is overturned, however, a return to first-class cricket for Cronje seems most unlikely. During his evidence at the King Commission-Fixing of Inquiry into Match-fixing last year Cronje said he intended to sever all his ties with cricket and he has subsequently given no indication that he wishes to resume his playing career.

It is still possible that the UCB and Cronje could reach some form of settlement during the course of the court case, but, again, it remains to be seen how the ICC would view any such settlement.