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Symcox's June 7 testimony

MR FITZGERALD: And the next occasion that you were approached?

MR SYMCOX: I think the issue that you're referring to here is the one that is in question, in Terms of Reference. In 1997, before the commencement of the Cape Town One-dayer against Pakistan, in the Mandela Trophy, Hansie called me and asked me to come down to his room and have a chat, which I often did, and we talked about the game, and then he asked me how I thought about an offer he'd received on behalf of, again, of the team, to lose the match against Pakistan. I thought it was a bad idea, especially on the fact that I'd not been playing for the previous couple of games to that, and I'd just been brought in. But I didn't think it was worthwhile. I thought we could beat Pakistan anyway, and I wouldn't want to be part of it. So my advice to him was to not even worry about that and just let's get on with the game. And he agreed with it, and I assume that's what he did.

MR FITZGERALD: And who won the game?

MR SYMCOX: South Africa did.

MR FITZGERALD: Right. Can I just briefly deal with betting generally? Have you ever bet on any cricket and the outcome of any cricket game?

MR SYMCOX: No, not as yet. But now that I have retired I might. (general laughter)

MR FITZGERALD: Other than the incidents to which you've referred, have you ever otherwise been approached or involved or - in any attempt to influence a game in any way?

MR SYMCOX: No.

MR FITZGERALD: Okay. Are you aware of any other South African cricketer who has been so involved?

MR SYMCOX: No, I'm not.

MR FITZGERALD: Okay. Can you briefly describe to the Commission of what you know of colloquially known as 'Banjo', but I'm told his real name is Hamied Cassim. Do you know the gentleman?

MR SYMCOX: Yes, I know - if he walked in, I would be able to say Hallo to him, and greet him and say, 'How are you?'. But outside of that I wouldn't know. He's always been around in the team hotels, and just always around in our presence. And he has - whatever his business interests were I don't know, but to me he had formed quite friendship relationships of, 'Hi', and, 'How are you?', and he often dropped off biltong, which is quite a good call. If you want to get close to some of the players, give them the biltong, you know. And I just - the one - I never got a handle on him, I never felt that I knew him or liked - I disliked having outsiders close to our team, as the team members would tell you. Anybody that was foreign in the change-rooms or anywhere near us, I disliked.

And the one time that I did - he was visiting in the room, I was sharing a room with Fanie, and he popped up to give him some biltong, and I questioned that fact, and said I'd prefer not for him to be in the room because I don't particularly like guys being in our rooms. And that was it. So I've never really got close to the guy, but I know who he is.

MR FITZGERALD: And was he somebody who spent a lot of time with or about the team?

MR SYMCOX: I'm sorry, I missed the first part of your question.

MR FITZGERALD: Was Hamied somebody who spent a lot of time with our about the team, generally?

MR SYMCOX: In my time I saw him around quite a bit, ja.

MR FITZGERALD: Finally, I don't want you to speculate because - well, firstly, what is your view on speculation and looking at events with the benefit of hindsight?

MR SYMCOX: Well, there are two things that go through my mind, and obviously speculation is not good because it can lead to people speculating on the speculation. But I've played cricket for 25 years, and so I have a right to my own opinion, and sure, that might be speculation, but that's my opinion. But it is dangerous to speculate if you don't speculate from a solid base. Some people would say any speculation is bad, but at times you can speculate from a solid base, but it is dangerous. And things can change, and what one opinion is might be a different opinion to somebody else.

MR FITZGERALD: Well, without speculating, can I ask you to comment on one incident, because there has been reference very often to Mr Crookes having opened the bowling in India. Can you just confine yourself to that incident? Can you express any view on what you thought of that?

MR SYMCOX: Well, it wasn't irregular to me, certainly. I opened the bowling for South Africa in One-day Tests many times, back-to-back, many games in a row, in actual fact. One of the tournaments was the Mini World Cup in Bangladesh where I opened the bowling for 3 games in a row. So it wasn't irregular for me that an off-spinner, or a spinner, open the bowling. Sitting in my lounge watching the cricket from India, in India, not having been in the team meeting or whatever, maybe it made sense. Certainly, if there was a left-hander, and Ganguly was batting and the wicket is turning, then it's not bad. I wouldn't think it was anything funny.

MR FITZGERALD: You were certainly not averse to ever opening the bowling yourself.

MR SYMCOX: Sometimes it was the only way I could get a bowl.

COMMISSIONER: You don't think there was a book on Bangladesh winning there, Mr Symcox?

MR SYMCOX: I think Eddie Barlow's writing that now.

MR FITZGERALD: Mr Symcox, finally, as an ex-player what is your view of this Commission?

MR SYMCOX: Well, look, as an ex-player I would say that my biggest asset and the assets - the biggest thing that I have in my life and all the players have is to have represented cricket for South Africa. I couldn't think of doing anything bigger in my life time, and I was honoured and proud and it's been a privilege. And if that in any way is tainted, then I would be disappointed and I believe that all the players would as well. And if we would do - I would certainly like to do anything that can help to make sure that the thing that I hold most dear, cricket, and having played for South Africa is held in the highest regard it possibly can.

MR FITZGERALD: Thank you, Mr COMMISSIONER.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR FITZGERALD

COMMISSIONER: MR DICKERSON.

MR DICKERSON: Mr COMMISSIONER, I've discussed this matter with my learned friend, Miss Batohi, and I think our understanding is that in instances where she has interviewed witnesses, the appropriate procedure would be for her to examine the witness before we cross-examine. There may be matters which she wishes to canvass, and of which we are not aware.

COMMISSIONER: Are you agreeable to that procedure, Miss Batohi?

MS BATOHI: I have no problem with that, and perhaps at the end of it if I feel there's any further questions that need to be put, perhaps I could ask for that indulgence.

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