Former South Africa cricketer Derek Crookes expressed shock and astonishment about his name being mentioned by teammate Herschelle Gibbs as one of the three cricketers involved in match-fixing during South Africa's tour of India in 2000.
Gibbs, who was questioned by the Delhi Police on Thursday, admitted that he did receive offers to under-perform twice in ODIs in 1996 and 2000, and also said Crookes and two other South African players were involved in the scam.
- All about the match-fixing scandal
The Delhi Police did not mention the names of the other two players revealed by Gibbs, who said he did only what his late captain, Hansie Cronje, wanted him to do.
Crookes, a former off-spinner who took part in the 2000 tour, told a newspaper that his name had already been cleared by the King Commission that was set up by the South African authorities to probe the scandal.
"I was shocked when I heard it, especially as I was cleared by the King Commission of any involvement in match-fixing. I have never had anything to hide and gave evidence during the King Commission's hearings," Crookes was quoted as saying in the Johannesburg Afrikaans daily newspaper, Beeld.
Crookes said he would like to make a statement to the Indian police.
"I will be more than willing to make a statement, along with my legal team, to the Indian police," Crookes said.
He, however, said he would not travel to India to give the statement but the Indian Police should come down to South Africa to question him.
"The only reason I can think of for them wanting to link me in some way to match-fixing is that I opened the bowling on that day in Nagpur.
"Hansie Cronje had told me earlier I would open the bowling. Afterwards it was said to have changed; but shortly before the match Hansie told me again I would open. I did not find it strange because I had opened the bowling for Gauteng on occasion. I was always ready for a challenge and suspected nothing when Hansie told me about the plan.
"I had no idea that it might have something to do with match-fixing or that some guys would be betting on it."
