King delay keeps Gibbs on ice

The six-week delay in the presentation of Justice Edwin King's interim report to President Thabo Mbeki will serve, among other things, to stretch out the agony for Herschelle Gibbs.

After giving evidence to the King commission that he had conspired with Hansie Cronje to throw a one-day game in India this year Gibbs was withdrawn from the South African side to tour Sri Lanka. He has effectively been suspended from all cricket under the aegis of the United Cricket Board, but still receives his monthly salary from the UCB in terms of the two-year contract he signed at the beginning of May.

And until Justice King makes recommendations as to the course of action to be taken against those involved in match-fixing, Gibbs will stay on ice.

"It has been policy all along that we will await the recommendations of Justice King," said UCB managing director Ali Bacher on Friday. "As soon as he makes recommendations, probably the next day, we will ask anyone involved to appear before a disciplinary committee. Quite clearly, we cannot pre-empt Justice King. It was, after all, the UCB that asked for a commission of inquiry to be set up in the first place."

In the meantime, though, Gibbs cannot play at any level, down as far as club cricket.

During the King commission hearings, Gibbs admitted that he had agreed to an arrangement with Cronje to give his wicket away for fewer than 20 in the fifth one-day international against India in Nagpur. On arriving at the crease, however, he "forgot" about the arrangement and proceeded to hammer 74 off 53 balls.

After no fewer than eight denials that he had been in any way involved in match-fixing, Gibbs was finally persuaded by South African vice-captain Mark Boucher to reveal his involvement to the King commission.