Cricket deal over Cronje looms
By Paul Martin Cainer in Johannesburg
Hansie Cronje's lawyers are planning to offer a compromise deal to keep
the ex-captain out of national and provincial cricket but let him coach
youth and watch the game. This is the deal they will be putting on the table
if the United Cricket Board's lawyers agree to reverse or withdraw
Cronje's life ban imposed last week. There is likely to be an out-of-court
agreement rather than a High Court decision being made.
In an exclusive interview with rediff.com and Live Africa Network News,
a key lawyer for Cronje hinted at their plan. Speaking in Bloemfontein, Leslie Sackstein slammed the United Cricket Board for its failure to allow Cronje a chance to state his case before they imposed the ban.
"Once they took their unilateral action there was no alternative for us but
to take them to court. They have brought this on their own heads, by
passing a resolution that cannot be carried out."
Then Sackstein dropped his key hint. "If they had only approached us.
I am a reasonable man, and the important thing is to do what's good for
cricket. They could have approached us to reach an agreement."
The potential agreement could involve:
** Cronje issues a public commitment not to be involved in coaching or
playing any international or provincial (first-class) cricket, anywhere
in the world.
** Cronje offers and is allowed to coach youth, as part of an effort to
compensate for his ill-deeds by putting something back into the game.
** Cronje is not barred from watching cricket at any ground.
** Cronje is not barred from entering any commentary box.
It is the latter that may be the biggest sticking-point.
Percy Sonn, the UCB chairman, has already insisted that sponsors should not place
adverts on television stations that use Cronje as commentator. He has even said
he would like Cronje banned from beach cricket, a remark to which
Sackstein says he 'took great umbrage'.
The court hearing aimed at overtunring a life ban became inevitable
when the UCB failed to respond to a deadline set by Cronje's lawyers. It
expired mid-afternoon on Tuesday. The UCB leaders were in Nairobi and said
they had no time or means to respond.
"That is too feeble an excuse," charged Sackstein. "Have they never
heard of faxes and e-mails? Do they not live in the 21st century?"
Mail Cricket Editor
