5. Hansie Cronjes Match-Fixing South Africa vs. England, 1999-2000
This example combines elements of both the #8 and #7 entries, seen as it involves a match between England and South Africa and accusations of match fixing. But while the Pakistan case was motivated purely by self-interest, the case of Hansie Cronje appeared at first to be in the interests of cricket. The fifth test of the 1999-2000 series at Centurion was poised to be a boring dead rubber. South Africa had already won the series 2-0, and after the first days play, three whole days had been lost to rain. The game was drifting towards a meaningless draw and the spectators were disappointed at not getting their moneys worth. But this all changed when South Africas captain Hansie Cronje asked the England captain, Nasser Hussein, if they would like to have a game. This resulted in South Africa declaring on 248/8, with each team forfeiting an innings and England having to chase 249 to win. They won by two wickets, ending South Africas 14-game unbeaten run. It subsequently emerged that Cronje had been offered 500,000 Rand from a bookmaker, along with a leather jacket, if he declared and made a game of it. The subsequent King Commission found Cronje guilty of match-fixing, sending shockwaves through South African cricket at the thought that one of its most popular and talented sportsmen could be capable of something so bad.
What Happened Next: Cronje was banned from playing and coaching for life in October 2000. He unsuccessfully appealed the decision in 2001, and died in a plane crash in June 2002.