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India denies seeking Cronje extradition: AFP

India denied Tuesday reports that the government was in touch with its South African counterparts to seek the extradition of disgraced cricket captain Hansie Cronje, to face match-fixing charges.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Raminder Singh Jassal told reporters in New Delhi that the reports were misleading. "India's foreign ministry, which will naturally deal with such requests, has not been approached by anyone to seek the extradition of South African cricketer Hansie Cronje," said Jassal.

"There is no bilateral extradition treaty between India and South Africa," Jassal added. Without a treaty between the two countries, any extradition request would have to be routed through legal channels and approved by the South African judiciary.

The Indian media Monday quoted Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Dhindsa as saying that his ministry, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Delhi Police were "in close touch with the South African Government" to facilitate Cronje's extradition to India.

The Delhi Police announced match-fixing charges against Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom on April 7. The allegations that Cronje took money to throw matches hinge around the five one-day internationals South Africa played in India between March 9 and 19. India won the series 3-2.

The Delhi Police insist they have clinched evidence in the form of taped conversations between Cronje and a London-based Indian bookie to nail the sacked South African skipper and his team-mates in court.