DURBAN (Reuters)
South African captain Shaun Pollock bemoaned the loss to cricket of disgraced predecessor Hansie Cronje after his life ban was upheld in court today. The Pretoria High Court rejected Cronje's appeal after the United Cricket Board (UCB) banished him from the game for accepting more than $130,000 from gamblers and bookmakers to influence the course of matches. "For him, it's sad," Pollock told Reuters. "In the years to come he does have something to offer cricket with all his experience. "It is unfortunate, from his perspective, that he is not permitted to pursue a career in the game. It is a loss [to cricket], but I suppose it was a loss when it was discovered what he did." Another of Cronje's former team-mates, Fanie de Villiers, questioned the UCB's motives. "There are probably underlying motives we don't know about, bad vibes between Hansie and the UCB from beforehand," de Villiers told Reuters. "Perhaps he became too powerful as captain and upset a few people, and now they want to stun him into the ground." The president of the Free State Cricket Union, Charlie Robinson, declined to comment on the grounds that "it's a UCB thing and we'll await their instruction". Bloemfontein-born Cronje was widely believed to be planning a comeback to the game through the Free State provincial structures if his legal challenge had been successful. Cronje is barred from involvement with any cricket played under the auspices of the UCB, which includes international, provincial, club and school levels. He may offer his services as a private coach and may coach at the few South African schools which are not affiliated to the UCB.

Cronje may also pursue a career in the media, but would need accreditation from the UCB to work from the press-box at cricket grounds.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd