Kepler clears the air on Hansie controversy
Former South African cricket captain Kepler Wessels speaks to Jacaranda FM's Trevor Cramer from New Zealand and sets the record straight regarding what he terms the 'unnecessary controversy' that raged over a documentary he did in Australia last year.
Wessels' passing referral to the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal featured in a recently-aired documentary.
The documentary was about Australian cricket legends -- Wessels played for both Australia and South Africa -- and was aimed at showcasing his career.
The question was raised why Wessels was only wading through the old cobwebs 15 years later, and why he saw it only now as an opportune time to speak out.
Also raised was why he did not offer this information to the King Commission, which probed corruption and match-fixing in the game.
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Wessels says he did report his suspicions to the relevant authorities on tour at the time but, as captain, didn't want to unsettle the team.
He also makes it clear that he was in fact next in line to testify at the King Commission before it was adjourned and shut down.
It appears as if the highly regarded former Proteas skipper and well-respected cricket commentator and analyst was baited by the overseas media, leading to an unnecessary storm. There doesn’t seem to have been any intention whatsoever from Wessels’ part of re-opening old wounds.
Wessels has known Hansie's parents and the Cronje family all his life, and he makes it very clear that he would never purposely do something to further damage Hansie's reputation in any way.
"Hopefully this will put an end to this malicious and nasty speculation," concludes Wessels.