Hansie: I was not entirely honest

By Ray Williams

South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje has admitted that he has not been "entirely honest" in his denials of match fixing allegations directed at him following the team's recent tour of India.

The United Cricket Board of SA on Tuesday withdrew Cronje from the squad to play Australia in a three-match one-day series this week. The captaincy will be taken over by Shaun Pollock.

Cronje's instant withdrawal was prompted by the 30-year-old captain's admission to UCBSA president Percy Sonn that he had not been "entirely honest" with the board regarding allegations of his involvement in match fixing" during the recent tour of India, UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher said in Durban.

"Hansie phoned myself and Sonn at 3am Tuesday morning and told us that he had not been entirely honest with the us regarding his involvement," said Bacher.

"We immediately decided it would be in everybody's best interests if he stood down from the series."

Bacher said Cronje had not gone into any further detail but had been in agreement with the decision.

Sonn and Bacher, who were overnighting at a game lodge in KwaZulu-Natal, will be meeting with the South African squad at Kingsmead at lunchtime and will then be holding a media conference at the team hotel at 3pm.

"Hopefully by then we will be able to elaborate," said Bacher.

In the interim Eastern Province allrounder Dave Callaghan has been summoned as a replacement and will be linking up with the squad later in the day.

While Cronje's whereabouts are uncertain - he was not at Tuesday morning's practice session - it is believed he has flow to Pretoria for an urgent meeting with Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad. - Sapa