Cronje: I always played to win

Cronje: I always played to win

Disgraced former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje has denied he had fixed match results saying he had always played to win.

And he hinted that he believed his international cricket career was now over because of the scandal.

I know of no member of any side that I have led who has done anything reprehensible or wrong

Hansie Cronje

In a prepared statement released on Thursday he said: "All I will say is I was not involved in fixing or manipulating the results of cricket matches.

"I always played to win.

"I know of no member of any side that I have led who has done anything reprehensible or wrong.

"I find myself in an awful predicament brought about by my own foolishness and naivety.

"I realise that I face certain personal difficulties.

"I am truly proud to have been associated with this side, one and all, and wish Shaun and the rest of the team nothing but success in the future."

Cronje disgraced after six years as captain

Cronje was sacked as South African captain on Tuesday after he admitted taking between $10,000 and $15,000 from a bookmaker for information and forecasting on one-day matches.

He has however strenuously denied involvement in match-fixing.

Indian police have charged Cronje and team mates Nicky Boje, Herschelle Gibbs and Pieter Strydom with "cheating, fraud and criminal conspiracy" during a one-day series in India last month, which India won 3-2.

United South African Cricket Board managing director Dr Ali Bacher said: "We do have a crisis on our hands in South African cricket - we cannot escape that reality."

The International Cricket Council have said that each case will be treated individually and will investigate the Cronje scandal but they have so-far rejected calls for a global inquest.