Cricket: Sth African ban just a slap on wrist

By RICHARD BOOCK

Needless to say, after all the talk of lifelong bans and possible criminal recriminations, South Africa's disgraced cricketers have received a slap on the wrist with a soggy piece of biltong.

Faced with the choice of throwing the book or a lifeline at Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams yesterday, the United Board of South Africa flew in the face of popular opinion and handed down what appears to be a ridiculously light penalty.

With former Proteas skipper Hansie Cronje awaiting the verdict of the King inquiry into match-fixing, Gibbs and Williams can look forward to resurrecting their international careers at the end of the year after receiving fines and a six-month ban.

Far from addressing the corruption scandal, the UCB has appeared to fuel the controversy by placing the needs of their national team above the general health of the game.

They also seemed to have swallowed the pair's defence that they intentionally reneged on the acknowledged deal, which would have had them under-performing in a one-dayer against India earlier this year.

Gibbs, who was supposed to have got himself out for less than 20, cracked a quickfire 73, while fast bowler Williams retired hurt after bowling less than two overs.

Much has been made of the fact that while the pair accepted Cronje's offer they did not fulfil their part of the deal, although several pertinent questions still hover over that claim. Did Gibbs, for example, bat more freely than usual because of the arrangement, and simply become lucky?

Whatever the truth, the UCB is bound to attract fierce criticism for missing the chance to send a clear message that corruption and match-fixing will no longer be tolerated. The message they sent was one of confusion, timidity, and misdirected sympathy.