Cricket
Williams left scarred by Cronje
2012-05-30 10:17
Henry Williams (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - Henry Williams has said his involvement in the
Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal in 2000 has left a "permanent scar".
Williams, 44, who played seven one-day internationals for South Africa, accepted around £10 000 from ex-captain Cronje to underperform against India in Nagpur in 2000.
Williams, who was banned for six months, told the
BBC Radio 5 Live, "You can't forget things in life, it's left a permanent scar."
Cronje received a life ban for admitting to receiving £100 000 from bookmakers.
Former Proteas opener
Herschelle Gibbs was given a six-month ban for his part in the scandal.
Cronje, who captained South Africa to 27 wins against only 11 losses in 53 Tests and won 99 of the 138 one-day internationals at the helm between 1994 and 2000, was the only passenger on a mail delivery flight which crashed into a mountain near his home town of George in bad weather on June 1, 2002. He was 32.
"He (Cronje) never said, 'Sorry for what I did to harm you', or anything," added Williams. "He's dead now and he still worries me.
"When they (acquaintances) sit with friends and have parties they will talk about it and say, 'There's that cheat walking'. You can feel people talking about you behind your back."