Gibbs breaks his silence

CAPE TOWN, APRIL 15. South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs has broken his silence and denied any part in match-rigging or spread-betting allegations involving disgraced South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje.

Gibbs told Saturday's Cape Argus newspaper he was stunned when he was implicated in the Indian betting scandal: ``I felt bad, but I knew I was innocent. Nothing would ever make me do something so irresponsible. I think somebody who would become involved in anything like this would have let their country down, and themselves and the team, and it is terribly unprofessional.''

Cronje was accused by Indian police of having accepted money from a London-based Indian bookie who allegedly has links to a betting syndicate. The other South African players implicated by police in India are Gibbs, Pieter Strydom and Nicky Boje.

The South African Government is in the process of setting up a commission of inquiry, headed by a judge, to investigate the allegations and prepare a report for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

``Nobody approached us,'' Gibbs said. ``When we were told about it, we were terribly shocked.''

Gibbs added he felt sorry for Cronje. ``He is a great man and one of the greatest captains who has ever played the game. I've known him for a good few years and I've still got the utmost respect for him. He will always be a great friend of mine.''

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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