Boje won't tour India without assurance

Nicky Boje, the South African left-arm spinner, has categorically stated that he will tour India later this year only if he receives an assurance from the Indian government that he will not face charges of match-fixing. The Delhi Police have expressed an interest in interrogating Boje and Herschelle Gibbs, two of the main accused in the match-fixing scandal that first erupted in 2001.

In an interview with Die Volksblad, Boje said that he would not tour India unless the Indian government gave him an undertaking that he would not be arrested or questioned about his involvement with Indian bookmakers while on South Africa's tour of India in 2000. Hansie Cronje, the late South African captain, was found guilty of having had dealings with these bookmakers while on the same tour. The Delhi police have refused to provide any open assurance to the South African players.

Mickey Arthur, the South African team coach, said that he would like to see Gibbs and Boje tour Indian with the rest of the team. "They are good and experienced players and I would like them to be in my tour party in November," Arthur was quoted as saying by PTI.

Gerald Majola, the UCB CEO, has said that if the Gibbs and Boje do not receive the undertaking, they would themselves have to decide whether they would tour India in November, PTI reported. The South African itinerary consists of five one-day matches between November 17 and November 29.