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Proteas miffed at sex claims

Eduan Roos and Altus Momberg

Cape Town - There is no sexual promiscuity, alcohol abuse or division in the current South African cricket team.

That was the reaction from the Proteas on Sunday following a nasty attack by former Proteas opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs on the team, and in particular captain Graeme Smith.

Gibbs (36) shook the cricketing world on Sunday with allegations in his autobiography, To The Point, about sexual orgies, alcohol and drug abuse during some of the team’s tours.

He also alleges that a “clique” made up of Smith, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers causes division in the Proteas dressing room and makes it “impossible to develop positive team spirit”.

“The players are very disappointed about the allegations because Herschelle is an excellent player and should rather be remembered for what he did on the field,” said team manager Mohammad Moosajee.

“He has not been a regular member of the team over the past two years and is therefore not in a position to comment on the team spirit.

“Anyone who has seen the team’s performances against Pakistan would be able to see that it is nonsense. You can’t achieve results like that without a good spirit on and off the field.”

The Proteas won the Twenty20 series against Pakistan last week and are level in the one-day series 1-1 after losing to their opponents on Sunday evening.

“His allegations (of regular group sex in the Proteas’ hotel) apparently refer to the tour of Australia in 1998. That happened 12 years ago and has nothing to do with the current team,” said Moosajee.

“We have our own code of conduct and each member of the team and management follows it.”

Gibbs also alleged that former team-mate Daryll Cullinan sold out his team-mates during their tour of the West Indies in 2001.

Gibbs, Roger Telemachus, André Nel, Justin Kemp and Paul Adams smoked dagga after a victory in Kingston.

“It was my idea and I felt that we should celebrate the win in the ‘appropriate manner’,” the book states.

Gibbs said that Cullinan had reported them to team management as he was angry with Telemachus.

Former Proteas captain Kepler Wessels said that the comments may mean the end of Gibbs’ international career, currently sitting at 90 Tests, 248 one-day matches and 23 Twenty20 games.

Gibbs writes in his autobiography that he would still like to play for the Proteas.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said that a decision about possible steps against Gibbs would be taken on Monday.

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