Bacher's successor unhappy with prolonged inquiry
M Subramoney

Durban, December 30: South African cricket chief Ali Bacher's successor Gerald Majola has said the Edwin King Commission's inquiry into cricket match-fixing was taking too long to complete and it may adversely affect the game in the country.

``The King Commission of inquiry is taking too long to finalise its work,'' Majola said adding he wanted to take over the high-profile job with the scandal behind him.

South Africa's first Black cricket chief Majola, who assumes office on January 2, outrightly rejected the idea of tapping phones of the players as recommended by the Commission in order to keep a check on the match-fixing menace.

``hey are players and not criminals. We have to show a human face,'' Majola said.

``I really want to start my tenure in the New Year with a clean slate and that means ideally that I would not have the issue still hanging over us all when I take over,'' he said in an interview during the rain-marred first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka here.

Majola said he had spoken to Bacher and Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour about the postponement of Commission's hearings sought by Hansie Cronje from January to Feburary as his lawyers would not be available to represent him when the Commission resumed its work in January end.

But, since the Commission was promulgated by the government, it was up to the Commission to decide when it should close shop, Majola said.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.