ET News Round-Up: South Africa draft in Gibbs (7 December 1998)

7 December 1998

ET News Round-Up: South Africa draft in Gibbs

Nelson Clare

SOUTH AFRICA have brought Herschelle Gibbs, the coloured Western Province batsman, into their 12-man squad for the second Test against the West Indies, which starts at Port Elizabeth on Thursday.

Gibbs replaces Adam Bacher, an opener, though he has batted in the middle order at provincial level for most of his first-class career.

His selection, the only change from South Africa's four-wicket win in the first Test at Johannesburg, has come at a time of renewed pressure for the introduction of more non-whites into first-class cricket.

The United Cricket Board have ordered all provincial teams to select one or more non-white players for matches as a matter of policy. The instruction follows some stinging criticism by the Sports Minister, Steve Tshwete, who claimed provincial selectors were perpetuating racism.

Ali Bacher, managing director of the South African Cricket Board, said yesterday he believed that the South Africa player accused of rape in East London had been framed. "I am absolutely certain he is innocent."

South Africa (from): G Kirsten, H H Gibbs, J H Kallis, D J Cullinan, *W J Cronje, J N Rhodes, S M Pollock, -M V Boucher, P L Symcox, A A Donald, P R Adams, D J Terbrugge.

The investigation by a judge into corruption in Pakistan cricket has apparently found enough evidence to recommend action against Salim Malik, a former captain, a lawyer for the cricket authorities has disclosed.

Ali Sibtain Fazli said: "There is enough direct evidence against Salim Malik. I don't know what the judicial commission judge will do, but with whatever has come against him there's more than sufficient to prove his involvement in betting and match-fixing."

He claimed that a bookmaker, Salim Pervaiz, had admitted he once paid about £62,000 to Salim to influence a Singer Cup one-day international. Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who conducted the hearings at the request of the government, is expected to submit his report on Dec 30.

Peter Bowler, 35, has resigned as captain of Somerset after two seasons.

Yorkshire have completed the signing of the former Somerset batsman Richard Harden on a two-year contract.

Grant Flower followed his left-arm spin figures of seven for 31, a career-best, with a hard-hitting 118 off 106 balls to put Zimbabwe in command of their tour match against Lahore City Cricket Association yesterday.

Pakistan A decided to forfeit their four-day match against New Zealand A in Hamilton yesterday after refusing to bat on a pitch which had been damaged by vandals overnight.

They claimed the pitch was too dangerous and the players refused to emerge from their changing rooms at the delayed start time after repair work had been completed to the satisfaction of the umpires.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)