Cronje commits himself to SA future

Centurion (South Africa) - Whether he as coerced, or tactically agreed to the move, South Africas captain Hansie Cronje has dropped plans to coach Glamorgan next year and committed himself to the future of the game in this country. Which means country before commercial interests involving outside interest. And that is the gist of a statement released by the United Cricket Board yesterday after a meeting on Tuesday between Cronje and Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the UCB about the national captains long-term plans which seemed to be at odds with board policy.

The Glamorgan job surfaced recently after claims Cronje had been 93placed on probation94 by Rushdie Majiets national selection panel in August when he was appointed for the two Tests against Zimbabwe and the first two against England.

As it is Glamorgan had approached Cronje on the advice of their former coach Duncan Fletcher to see if he was interested in the job. It is also understood that Cronje had displayed some concern at selection panel interference in team selection with claims he was about to quit.

In a statement released yesterday by Dr Bacher the view was expressed that had Cronje accepted the Glamorgan offer there was a possibility he would not have gone to Sri Lanka next year. After his persuasive motivation rallied the side in Nairobi for recent quadrangular series where South Africa beat India in the final there has been pressure on Cronje to re-examine his future plans.

It is understood Cronje had a 93spoken agreement94 with Glamorgan but that was about it, although Dr Bacher said in the media release that he could take up the offer in 2001,if of course it does not clash with South Africas commitments: these could clash with a tour of the West Indies.

I have had a lengthy discussion with Hansie over the past few days and I am happy to say that he has committed himself to the national team, Dr Bacher said.

No one can be guaranteed a place in the national but form and fitness permitting Hansie still has an enormous amount to offer South Africa and I am glad to say that he has accepted this view.

I do not want to pre-empt any decisions the national selectors may take in the future, but in my view there is no one better suited to captain South Africa at present.

He is only 30, his international record is good, he is fit and I hope he will be available when the next World Cup is staged, in South Africa in 2003, Dr Bacher added.

Cronje will be 33 at that stage, the age Steve Waugh was when he led Australia to success in the World Cup final at Lords this year against Pakistan.