Bacher to quit UCBSA top post

South African cricket chief Ali Bacher, currently in the thick of a storm over match-fixing, intends to step down from the post of Managing Director of the United Cricket Board "in a month or two".

Bacher, once contender for the position of Sports Minister in the new South Africa and one of the strongest sports officials in the country, today said he wanted to concentrate all his efforts on ensuring the success of the 2002 World Cup which is to be held in South Africa.

Bacher said he would leave his office "preferably on October 1", six months ahead of his retirement.

"That would give me about six months in which to help ease my successor into office," he said.

Six candidates have already been interviewed for the post and a final decision would be taken by September end.

"As far as I am concerned, the sooner the better," Bacher said.

Meanwhile the UCB has been entrusted with the job of reviwing the recommendations of the King Commission of Inquiry into match-fixing allegations.

The commission, which witnessed the sensational admissions of the disgraced cricketer Hansie Cronje, will decide the fate of three other players - Pieter Strydom, Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams - under suspicion.

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