Cronje's confession has devastated the country: Bacher

As each day passes, references and allegations are being made against players and officials and also past matches without substantiated evidence. First, it was Pat Symcox who told the King Commission that a current international player approached him with an offer. This was followed by Ali Bacher claiming that a bookie `Mr R' had informed him that Pakistan umpire Javed Akhtar was on the payroll of bookies. Later Dave Richardson corraborated Symcox's statement about the current player. In Pakistan, Javed Akhtar threatened to sue UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher. One thought that unsubstantiated charges was a disease related to India but now events have confirmed that it is universal and spreading like wildfire to other countries too.

Tuesday was a day of reactions and this in a way was expected following the sensational disclosure by Bacher on Monday where he alleged that two World Cup matches were fixed. The BCCI president AC Muthiah, in a press statement, termed Bacher's testimony before the King Commission as "unfortunate" and sought the help of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to investigate the allegation. Muthiah has asked Bacher to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and provide information regarding the bookie.

Bacher, in response to Muthiah's statement, said in an interview to an Indian newspaper that he is ready to appear before the CBI if requested. To a question on whether he would identify the bookie "Mr R", Bacher replied "If approached by the CBI I am ready to. Yes I will. But, only if the CBI's interaction with the gentleman (Mr R) will strictly be in-camera. This will be my pre-condition as I fear Mr R's life could be in danger."

In India, the CBI said that the agency is keeping abreast with the developments in South Africa. Talking to a news agency, CBI sources said "Since a similar case involving South African cricketers is also pending in India, the details and facts available with the commission could be relevant for us as well. We will like to have all possible input available with us." The sources added that though the agency has confined its investigation to India so far, it may consider sending its team to various countries, including South Africa, if the inquiry so demanded.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Tauqir Zia said the inquiry into match-fixing allegations will not be re-opened on the basis of Bacher's statement with regard to the Pakistan-Bangladesh and Pakistan-India matches in the 1999 World Cup. Calling for evidence, Zia told a Pakistan daily that "This is really getting out of hand now... Making allegations without evidence. Dr Bacher should now provide us with some evidence or at least take names of those players whom he knows to be involved in the alleged fixing of the World Cup matches."

Testifying before the commission, South African all rounder Jacques Kallis said he was appraoched by Hansie Cronje with a bribe offer and he turned it down. "I thought it was another one of his jokes. With the benefit of hindsight it could have been his way of approaching us. I was absolutely shattered, totally shocked. I thought he was the last person in the world who would do such a thing."

The King Commission will resume on Thursday after a day's adjournment.

Meanwhile, Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia was grilled for about twoand-a-half hours by officials at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday. He was besieged by reporters and TV cameramen on coming out after deposing and had to run to take refuge in his car.

Finally, the reactions of the South African fans illustrate that they are both shocked and disgusted at the disclosures made before the King Commission. "Some of my friends just make jokes about match-fixing; some of them are so fanatical about cricket, they say they will never watch it again," was how a South Afican fan reacted after the confessions of their stars and officials to the commission. The concluding remarks of Bacher on Cronje's confession was "It devastated this country and I don't think this country has recovered."

True, Mr Bacher. Not only your country but other countries too have not recovered from this shock. This sums up the mood of the lovers of the game, not only in South Africa but elsewhere as well.