• South African President Nelson Mandela with South Africa cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, in 1997. AFP
    South African President Nelson Mandela with South Africa cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, in 1997. AFP
  • Left to right: Lance Klusener, Allan Donald and Hansie Cronje during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Getty
    Left to right: Lance Klusener, Allan Donald and Hansie Cronje during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Getty
  • Hansie Cronje celebrates taking a wicket during a 1999 World Cup group game against Kenya in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Allsport
    Hansie Cronje celebrates taking a wicket during a 1999 World Cup group game against Kenya in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Allsport
  • South Africa batsman Hansie Cronje trudges off after being bowled by England's Devon Malcolm in the third Test at The Oval, in London, in 1994. PA
    South Africa batsman Hansie Cronje trudges off after being bowled by England's Devon Malcolm in the third Test at The Oval, in London, in 1994. PA
  • South Africa captain Hansie Cronje celebrates in Pretoria after winning the Test series against England in January, 2000 . AFP
    South Africa captain Hansie Cronje celebrates in Pretoria after winning the Test series against England in January, 2000 . AFP
  • Hansie Cronje congratulates Graeme Hick at the end of play after the England batsman had reached his century in the first Test at Pretoria in 1995. PA
    Hansie Cronje congratulates Graeme Hick at the end of play after the England batsman had reached his century in the first Test at Pretoria in 1995. PA
  • South Africa coach Bob Woolmer, left, with Hansie Cronje. Getty
    South Africa coach Bob Woolmer, left, with Hansie Cronje. Getty

On this day, April 11, 2000: Hansie Cronje sacked by South Africa over match-fixing claims


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It was a move that rocked the sporting world to its core: South Africa had sacked captain Hansie Cronje over allegations of match-fixing.

Cronje was the golden boy of South African cricket but found himself dragged into a story that would result in his career ending in disgrace.

On April 7, Delhi police had charged Cronje with fixing the one-day matches played against India in March, which India won 3-2.

United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) chief Ali Bacher dismissed the claims, highlighting Cronje's "unquestionable integrity and honesty", while the "stunned" player said the allegations were "completely without substance".

Two days later, Cronje reiterated his disbelief at the claims at a press conference in Durban.

He said: "I want to make 100 per cent clear that I deny ever receiving any sum of money during the one-day series in India.

"I want to also make it absolutely clear that I have never spoken to any member of the team about throwing a game."

Still Cronje retained the support from within the game. Former South African coach Bob Woolmer said: "These allegations are absolute garbage. He is not the type of person to get involved in anything like this.''

But the allegations were not going away and the pressure – and evidence – was beginning to mount.

Then, on April 11, the bombshell was dropped: Cronje had been sacked and Shaun Pollock would take over as captain for the upcoming one-day series against Australia.

Bacher said Cronje had admitted receiving money during a limited-overs series with Zimbabwe and England in January – not the India v South Africa series.

Cronje had allegedly accepted between $10,000 and $15,000 from a local South African and an Indian bookmaker based in London.

Asked at the news conference what details Cronje had been asked for by the bookmaker, Bacher said: "He denies match-fixing. Our information is that there was a detailed providing of information and forecasting – not match-fixing. He was asked about match-fixing but he denies throwing the match."

But confusion reigned when, soon after Bacher made his statements, Cronje would claim that he had "never received any financial rewards".

In his version, relayed through South Africa sports minister Ngconde Balfour, Cronje said: "While I was in India I was again contacted. I mentioned names of players but in fact I never spoke to a single player about throwing a match. I never received any financial rewards.

"I wish to emphasise that the allegations of match-fixing by myself are devoid of all truth.''

The waters were certainly murky but the day's headlines had stunned many in the game.

Woolmer, who worked with Cronje in the five years he was Proteas coach, said: "It will be the end of Hansie's career and it would be a real kick in the teeth for South African cricket."

James Whittaker, Cronje's former captain at English county side Leicestershire, was still convinced of his old teammate's innocence.

"There are very few who have the amount of character he has. I am just so surprised by this news," said Whittaker.

"If more people brought the honesty, integrity and commitment to the game that he does to cricket, it would be a much better game."

By June, though, Cronje had admitted taking large sums of money for giving information to bookmakers and asking his teammates to play badly on five separate occasions between 1996 and 2000.

But he told the King Commission into match-fixing allegations South Africa had never "thrown" or "fixed" a match, under his captaincy.

"Words cannot begin to describe the shame, humiliation and pain I feel, in the knowledge that I have afflicted this on others," he said. "To my wife, family, and teammates, in particular, I apologise.

"The greatest honour which can be bestowed upon any cricketer is to lead his country's national side. I have failed in my moral and professional duties."

Four months later, Cronje was banned for life from all cricket-related activities.

He ended his Test career after 68 matches with 3,714 runs at an average of 36.41, scoring six centuries and 23 half-centuries, also taking 43 wickets at 29.95 with the ball.

From 188 ODIs, he managed 5,565 runs at 38.64, hitting two centuries and 39 half-centuries, taking 114 wickets at 34.78 along the way.

Two years later, the story would take another tragic turn when, aged just 32, Cronje was killed in a plane crash in the country's Western Cape province.

Former South Africa president Nelson Mandela said after the news emerged: "Here was a young man courageously and with dignity rebuilding his life after the setback he suffered a while ago.

"The manner in which he was doing that, rebuilding his life and public career, promised to make him once more a role model of how one deals with adversity."

PRISCILLA
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

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Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
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Four title fights:

Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event  
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title

Six undercard bouts:

Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
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Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

ASHES SCHEDULE

First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
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Fourth Test
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Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)

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