SA cricket captain Cronje sacked

Hansie Cronje: sacked

South African captain Hansie Cronje has been sacked after admitting he was dishonest with the cricket board over match-fixing allegations.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa managing director Ali Bacher confirmed Cronje had been fired.

Cronje and three teammates are being investigated over allegations they fixed the recent one-day series against India, which India won 3-2.

Strenuously denied claims

Cronje has strenuously denied the allegations by Indian police.

On Tuesday he withdrew from the squad which was due to play Australia in a one-day series starting Wednesday.

The captaincy will be taken over by current vice-captain Shaun Pollock.

Cronje and three other South African cricketers, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom are accused by the Indian Police of match-fixing.

Indian police stunned the cricket world on 7 April when they announced they were filing match-fixing charges against Cronje and three teammates .

Also charged was a Delhi-based businessman, Rajesh Kalra, who is currently in police custody.

And a London-based bookmaker is also alleged to be involved.