 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Herschelle Gibbs, who arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday, will be interrogated by the Delhi Police on Thursday for his alleged role in the match-fixing scandal of 2000.
The South Africa opener arrived in Mumbai with his lawyer and was immediately driven to the Taj Intercontinental hotel, where the South African team is putting up. Although no official confirmation was available, it is learnt that he will fly to Delhi late in the evening and make himself available for interrogation at the Delhi police headquarters at 1000 IST. Senior Delhi police officers have prepared a long questionnaire for him.
Gibbs will be questioned by Joint-Commissioner of Police Ranjit Naryanan in the presence of Dr K K Paul, the Police Commissioner of Delhi.
"We are not very hopeful about him telling us anything sensational," a senior officer of the Delhi police told rediff.com.
According to sources, the Delhi Police is trying to link statements of former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje and what Gibbs had told the King Commission that investigated the scandal in South Africa.
"We want to know if he was in direct touch with the bookies; if so, then who were they," the sources said.
Gibbs will be questioned about the Nagpur and Faridabad matches, where he was under obligation to get out scoring below 20 runs. In the Faridabad match he got out for 19 but in the second one he went on to hit half century. Later, it was said, he apologised to Cronje that he had forgotten about the deal.
Officials in the Board of Control for Cricket in India, who did not wish to be quoted, said the Delhi Police is trying to give the scandal a burial that everyone would buy.
"They want to show that they questioned even the South African players named in the match-fixing scandal before allowing Gibbs to go out of the police headquarters. I would not be surprised if they change the venue at the last minute," an official said.
Earlier on Wednesday it was reported Gibbs would be interrogated by the Delhi Police in Mumbai.
"According to my information, Gibbs will be in Mumbai where he will be interviewed by the Indian police," Cricket South Africa spokesperson Tshepo Tsotsotso had said.
He added that after being interviewed, Gibbs would join the South Africa team to prepare for their opening match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy tournament.
Gibbs and fellow-player Nicky Boje are alleged to have been involved in the match-fixing episode that hit cricket during South Africa's tour of India in 2000. Both were subsequently banned for six months each by the South African cricket authorities. Cronje was banned for life.
Cronje, then captain of South Africa, had admitted before the King Commission that he had accepted money from an Indian bookie but refused to throw the match. He later died in an air crash two years ago.
"We hope that he would be honest and come forth with answers that would help us in investigations," Dr Paul said. "Gibbs had replied to the 18 questions sent to him by the Delhi police, but they are not convinced by the answers and want to question him in person."
Gibbs and Boje were not included in earlier tours for fear of them being arrested by the Delhi police. But following an arrangement between the Delhi police and the BCCI, Cricket South Africa included Gibbs in the team for the Champions Trophy; Gibbs in return has accepted to appear before the police and answer questions without fear of being arrested.