Stick to the Plan - Henry Williams

South African seam bowler Henry Williams confirmed that he had been offered $15 000 by Hansie Cronje to bowl expensively in a one-day international in India earlier this year, the King commission of inquiry heard on Friday morning.

Williams' testimony corroborated that given by Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday when he told the commission that Cronje had told him of an offer to give his wicket away for less than 20 in the same match, also for $15 000.

Williams told the commission that after injuring himself after the first one-day international against India, he had missed the second, third and fourth matches. But he had declared himself fit for the fifth game in Nagpur.

He said that on the morning of the match he came out of the bathroom to find Cronje in his room talking to Gibbs. He said Cronje had a big grin on his face when he joined the conversation. Cronje said somebody had phoned him to offer a certain amount of money to throw the game. The amount was $15 000 and the arrangement was that Williams should concede more than 50 in his 10 overs.

In the event, Williams suffered a recurrence of his injury and bowled only 1.5 overs.

After Williams had returned home, Williams said he had phoned Cronje in Sharjah to congratulate him on matches won by South Africa.

After allegations of match-fixing had surfaced in India, Williams became nervous. He saw his name mentioned in transcripts released by Indian police. He had not spoken to Cronje since Sharjah, but he spoke to Gibbs and asked him what was going on and what he should do.

He did not speak to Cronje but received all his information from Gibbs. He said that Cronje told Gibbs that they should stick to the plan. He was told by Gibbs to describe the matter as a joke.

Williams said he did not know what would happen. He was frightened of the consequences and wished to protect both Cronje and himself which was why he had not admitted Cronje's approach either to his own legal advisers or representatives of the King commission.

Only after Gibbs had been told to come clean by Mark Boucher, said Williams. Did he also decide to tell the truth.

"As a person I still respect him (Cronje), but not what he has done," said Williams.