Looking back at the match fixing scandal

[Skater]

I've been interested in the match fixing scandal of 2000 after watching the Sky Sports show "Out of the Wilderness" yesterday. Let me just say this first - this thread is NOT for talking about any current match fixing concerns, it is just to talk about the one in 2000.

One thing that intrigues me is that the South African government tried very hard to land as much of the blame as they could on Hansie Cronje - as Neil Manthorp said in the programme, they wanted to 'cleanse the whole thing'. This is why he was banned for life and Gibbs for just 6 months.

And a little extreme, but does anyone believe Cronje's death was suspicious?

 

[prarara]

It's interesting, but do you have any evidence (that maybe you could link to) of foul play? These kinds of theories are always entertaining to think of though.

 

[Skater]

I don't, I wasn't a cricket fan in 2000 and the way they were talking in the programme suggested something was suspicious about his death, by saying that this was when the affair finally came to an end.

 

[metallics2006]

Did'nt he die in a plane crash? Come on, this is'nt some Robert Ludlum novel where a lot of people are killed in some sort of cover up . This is reality.

 

[Skater]

Did'nt he die in a plane crash? Come on, this is'nt some Robert Ludlum novel where a lot of people are killed in some sort of cover up . This is reality.

Yes his plane crashed into a mountain on 1 June, 2002.

 

[metallics2006]

What can we say unless we know more. Just this : R.I.P.

 

[Sureshot]

I don't, I wasn't a cricket fan in 2000 and the way they were talking in the programme suggested something was suspicious about his death, by saying that this was when the affair finally came to an end.

That's not suspicion. If the main person in the fixing scandal died, then the affair will come to an end. Planes do fail, and given South Africa's vast expanse of mountain range, there is plenty to crash into.

It was a shameful time for South African cricket. Interesting how it doesn't get raised on here very often, compared to other old scandals. Maybe out of respect for Hansie following his death.

 

[Insomniac]

I always did wonder - does anybody have any scorecards of matches that were confirmed fixed from when Hansie used to play.

Also theres a movie being made by his brother, I forgot the name, but it comes out soon.

 

[Skater]

In the programme Hansie talks about making sure the total is less than 270, one of his bowlers went for more than 60 in his 10 overs, etc.

 

[Insomniac]

In the programme Hansie talks about making sure the total is less than 270, one of his bowlers went for more than 60 in his 10 overs, etc.

Now how did he control the bowling? What if the opposition just... collapsed (like India )

 

[Skater]

Now how did he control the bowling? What if the opposition just... collapsed (like India )

He offered some of his earnings to the players. He offered Gibbs money if he batted poorly and made less than 20 runs. Gibbs was banned for 6 months for his involvement.

Btw, the film: http://www.hansiemovie.com/

 

[Insomniac]

Wasn't there an incident where Gibbs "forgot to play badly" and made 78?

 

[King Pietersen]

Gibbs actually made a fine 74 in that match though, therefore not really getting involved in match fixing. Henry Williams was also offered $15'000 to go for over 50 in his 10 overs but got injured in his 2nd over so therefore failed to recieve the $15'000 offered. They were only offered the money directly from Cronje, I'm not sure whether they agreed to the fixing, but neither went through with the offer. They both got a 6 month ban, which I'm sure would have been life if they'd have gone through with it.

It shows how money can affect people though, Cronje accepting money for encouraging players to lose wickets in a test match, for asking Gibbs to score under 20, and for Williams to go for 50 off 10, he also provided Mukesh Gupta with information regarding team selections. There was also another fella involved, "Sanjay" who was the fella who asked for Gibbs and Williams to fail and South Africa to score around 270, so that a bet can be made, whereas the names Cronje said he could get involved, to get rid of him were Gibbs, Boje, and Strydom.

Will try and watch the movie based on Cronje, I'd certainly like to find out more about the whole course of events.

 

[lightbulb]

I think it's suspicious because of all the cricketers I've heard of, none of them have died in plane crashes whilst they were still in their playing career, except Hansiewho was given the life ban-he obviously couldn't stand it anymore and made a suicide attempt or maybe Mr 'Sanjay' organized a little something.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Nothing related. RSA may have not liked the scandal and not have like Cronje, but they as sure as hell weren't willing to kill him off just because of some match-fixing. Why would they be that desperate? If anything, they would have relished to make an example out of him with the ban and several references to him as a villain in order to keep future cricketers straight.