Cricket's match-fixing crisis took another dramatic twist yesterday when police arrested three men for questioning in London in connection with alleged attempts to fix games.
Two men, aged 35 and 44, were arrested at their north London homes shortly after 7 a.m. and a third, aged 42, was arrested almost four hours later. It is believed that none of the men are players or officials.
The men were seized by officers from the Organised Crime Group, which began investigations into corruption within cricket after allegations made last year by the former England all-rounder Chris Lewis.
Hansie Cronje's testimony at the King Commission, meanwhile, could come tomorrow. The inquiry was adjourned yesterday after the commission advocate, Shamila Batohi, requested time to conduct "further investigations". The hearings will resume tomorrow or next week, with Friday being a bank holiday in South Africa.
Cronje's role in England's win over South Africa in last winter's Centurion Park test was thrust under the spotlight yesterday by Jacques Kallis. The South African batsman testified about his displeasure at Cronje's controversial deal with Nasser Hussain, which left England needing 245 to win from 70 overs.
His comments came just a day after another English victory, the 1998 Headingley test win over the same rivals, was tainted by claims of match-fixing.
Kallis also corroborated evidence by Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener that Cronje had made an offer of a bribe to them before the second test against India in March this year.
The former wicket-keeper Dave Richardson shed further light on Pat Symcox's testimony last week that a current international player - known only as Mr X - had offered him a bribe in India in 1996.
Richardson said Symcox had revealed Mr X's identity to him. "He is a member of the Indian team, but when I hear about all these death threats I don't think I should name him," he said.
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