Gibbs admits role in match-fixing, names Crookes
South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday confessed to his role in the match-fixing scandal of ’00 and acknowledged his teammate Derek Crookes as part of the band of players involved in the conspiracy though he did not name any Indian p...
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday confessed to his role in the match-fixing scandal of ’00 and acknowledged his teammate Derek Crookes as part of the band of players involved in the conspiracy though he did not name any Indian player.
Gibbs is one of the accused in the Delhi Police complaint, FIR (No 111), registered in April, ’00, under charges of cheating, fraud and criminal conspiracy along with Nicky Boje, Pieter Strydom and Henry Williams, apart from late skipper Hansie Cronje.
“Gibbs has named three people who were involved in hatching a conspiracy and influencing players to under perform,” said Ranjit Narayan, joint commissioner, after the interrogation. While sources said Crookes is one of the three players, Narayan refused to name them.
“Gibbs has also admitted that he was part of the conspiracy and had received the offer,” Narayan added. “None of the players named by Gibbs are part of the current South African squad,” said Narayan. “He has also not named any Indian cricketer,” he added.
After failing to get the bank details of any of the South African players who were part of the scandal, Delhi Police are now hopeful that Gibbs would provide the required information. “Though we do not have bank details of Gibbs, he has assured us that those details would be provided to the investigating team,” added Narayan. “We have framed charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating,” added the investigating chief.
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Narayan said that Gibbs had also revealed in his confessions that the South African team was also offered money during their trip to India in 1996.“We knew about this deal all along and he has just confirmed it,” said Narayan as he addressed reporters. Gibbs, in India to take part in the Champions Trophy tournament, was questioned for two and a half hours at the general officers’ mess by a Crime Branch team headed by Narayan.
The South African player was whisked away to the general officers’ mess soon after he reached the Delhi Police headquarters in the morning. The questioning started at 11 am. Officials informed that the interrogation was video-recorded for evidence.
“Gibbs interrogation has helped fill the gaps and it will take the case forward. He has assured us that he would be present for further questioning,” said Narayan, adding that Gibbs would not be questioned again during the tournament. “We will question the other players who have been named by Gibbs,” said Narayan.
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Denying allegations that Delhi Police had given any assurance not to arrest Gibbs, Narayan said though police had evidences against him but it was not enough to arrest him. Narayan also told reporters that Malcolm Speed, the chief executive officer of the International Cricket Council, had met Delhi Police chief K K Paul and had assured him that Gibbs would present himself for questioning. Delhi Police had launched the probe after they had recorded a phone conversation of Cronje, who admitted involvement on his part and was served with a life ban. He died in a plane crash in ’02.
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