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Cronje not yet out of the woods

Roshan Paul

In addition to the trauma he is undergoing thanks to his public humiliation, Hansie Cronje also has the knowledge that he might still face a prison sentence. If his testimony to the King Commission is found to be incomplete or inaccurate in any way, then he could be prosecuted under South Africa's Corruption Act. Such a prosecution would be on the grounds that he had withheld evidence or committed perjury.

His future seems to lie cradled in the hands of retired Judge Edwin King. If Judge King refuses to grant Cronje immunity, then the former South African captain might be staring down the barrel of a five to ten year jail term. Though Cronje can only be prosecuted for the $80,000 he received in South Africa, it seems that that would be sufficient to convict him.

Rumours emanating out of South Africa suggest that the courts there have clamped down on this type of crime and Cronje could be in serious trouble if he is not granted immunity.

Furthermore, while it was wholly expected, it has not helped Cronje's case that two of the people he mentioned in his testimony have strenuously denied the charge. Former Indian captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, who Cronje claims introduced him to a bookmaker, has vociferously disputed the statement. In a vitriolic response, Azharuddin questioned the validity of Cronje's testimony and pointed a finger back at the South African cricketing authorities.

"I totally deny the allegations and treat them with all contempt. I am innocent and I am ready to face any investigations that the Indian cricket board may initiate in the matter", said an angry Azharuddin on Thursday evening.

Hamid Cassim issued a similar denial through his attorney. Cronje alleged that Cassim tried repeatedly to convince him to fix matches.

Thus, though Cronje is still to face what will probably be a very arduous cross-examination from advocate Jimmy Gauntlett, he may not be free even after that. The man who took South Africa to the top of world cricket could soon find himself, yet again, between a rock and a very hard place.