Cronje may sue over lifetime ban

Disgraced former South African captain Hansie Cronje has given his country's cricket chiefs 24 hours to lift his lifetime ban - or face possible legal action.

Disgraced former South African captain Hansie Cronje has given his country's cricket chiefs 24 hours to lift his lifetime ban - or face possible legal action.

His lawyers have contacted the United Cricket Board demanding the ban, imposed last week, be lifted.

The UCB banned Cronje after he admitted taking about £70,000 from bookmakers and gamblers in return for information about match tactics.

He also confessed he offered team-mates money in exchange for underperforming in Test matches.

His lawyer, Leslie Sackstein, confirmed a letter had been sent to the UCB saying they may sue.

"We believe that the resolution was unlawfully taken, and our letter also invites the UCB to inform the International Cricket Council of our view," said Sackstein.

He declined to say on what basis the resolution was viewed to be unlawful, claiming this was privileged information.

Cronje's ban extends to all the UCB's related cricket activities as well as that of their affiliates, a board statement said.

The King Commission will resume hearings into the matter in November and are likely to make recommendations to the Government by early December, according to sports minister Ngconde Balfour.