Gibbs dropped in disgrace

Admissions: Gibbs (left) and Williams

Herschelle Gibbs has been dropped from South Africa's tour to Sri Lanka after admitting involvement in his country's escalating match-fixing scandal.

Announcing his removal from the team, the United Cricket Board said the opening batsman also faces a disciplinary hearing.

UCB managing director Ali Bacher said an inquiry would be set up following Gibbs's admission to a government inquiry that he had agreed to take money to perform badly in a match against India.

Gibbs told the King Commission that captain Hansie Cronje had offered him $15,000 to score less than 20 runs in the one-day international in Nagpur on 19 March.

Play poorly

Gibbs said he agreed the deal offered to him by captain Hansie Cronje but reneged on it by scoring more than 70 during the match and was never paid.

Fast bowler Henry Williams has also revealed to the Commission that he agreed to play poorly in return for payment in the same game after an offer was relayed to him by Cronje.

And all-rounder Pieter Strydom said that a sum of money was suggested to him by Cronje, but that he rejected it as a practical joke.

Dr Bacher confirmed that Gibbs will continue to be paid while he awaits the disciplinary hearing.

Cronje, who is expected to testify later in the hearings, faces a possible life-ban from cricket.

Another South African player, Pieter Strydom, testified that he had no involvement in the scam.