Johannesburg, Jan. 17 , Former Cricket South Africa CEO Ali Bacher has told an inquiry into South African cricket''s bonus scandal that he had no involvement in his getting a Rand five million bonus following the
2003 Cricket World Cup.

Sports24 quoted Bacher, as saying that at no stage was he involved in discussions for a bonus after the tournament in South Africa with either the United Cricket Board of SA (UCBSA) or the Cricket World Cup (CWC) company, the organisation created and charged with organising and running the tournament.

Bacher told the commission, chaired by retired judge Chris Nicholson, that the Rand five million was awarded in accordance with the way he had organised and run the tournament, and also took into account his pension as he was to retire from cricket administration after the tournament.

His monthly salary at CWC was Rand 59 161, the most Bacher said he had ever received as a cricket administrator.

He said that when he began his career as a cricket administrator, no provision had been made for retirement or medical benefits. Such benefits only came into existence in the latter part of his career at the UCBSA.

He said the amount he had accumulated from the UCBSA was "quite frightening."

Both companies' boards verified the decision at the time.

Altogether Rand 6.5 million was paid out in bonuses following the conclusion of the tournament.

Bacher was the CEO of the UCBSA from June 1991 to January 1, 2001, when he became the executive director of CWC in preparation for the 2003 tournament.

Majola replaced him as CEO of the cricket body on the same date.(ANI)