According to news reports in India on Tuesday, the Hansie Cronje match-fixing probe will be reopened after new information came to light about a key witness.
The Asian Age newspaper says Indian police received fresh information on bookie Sanjeev Chawla, who in 2001 was at the centre of the biggest match-fixing scandal in cricket’s history.
The new information emerged, however, after three Pakistani players – Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt – were convicted of spot-fixing in London, the report says.
As matters in London unfolded, Delhi police sent a letter of inquiry to police involved in the case asking about any links to India. They then received a reply detailing the new information, which has been kept under wraps so far
Based on the new information, India’s police decided to investigate the match-fixing saga again – and they have government’s approval.
Chawla and Cronje were found to have worked together to manipulate the results of matches in India. Cronje also admitted to approaching the South African team as well as Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams, in particular, to help him fix matches.
Cronje was banned from the sport for life, while Gibbs and Williams received matching six-month bans.
Cronje was killed in a plane crash in June 2002. – IOL