Cricket betting "volatile", Cronje inquiry told

Cricket betting "volatile", Cronje inquiry told
Agence France Presse

CAPE TOWN, JUNE 7: Cricket presented a volatile market for betting, the King Commission was told on Wednesday when it started an inquiry into corruption in South African cricket. Neil Andrews, a television betting pundit who was involved in a company which introduced spread betting into South Africa, was the first witness in the hearing set up after Hansie Cronje was sacked for his role in match fixing.

Andrews said cricket provided punters and bookmakers with more opportunities than most sports because of the wide range of scores that are possible. He agreed with Cronje's lawyer, John Dickerson, that a distinction could be drawn between forecasting and betting on cricket matches.

Judge Edwin King opened proceedings with a warning to witnesses that they could face prosecution if they failed to answer satisfactorily "any question lawfully put to them." The judge said all hearings would be in public unless he ruled that any particular evidence or portion of evidence should be held in camera.

On the first morning of the inquiry, South African players Daryll Cullinan and Derek Crookes were in the hearing room and were expected to be among the first witnesses. Ewie Cronje, father of the disgraced skipper, sat in the public seats at the opening of the hearing. Cronje was not present but was represented by his legal team. There was no indication when Cronje would testify.

The judge said he wanted to remove perceptions that the inquiry was planned as "any sort of revenge or witch hunt. We are here to establish the truth." Judge King, the former judge President of Western Cape province, was appointed in May after Hansie Cronje admitted he had received money from an Indian bookmaker.