The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) yesterday banned Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams from international cricket until December 31st for their role in the Hansie Cronje scandal.

In addition, the two men were fined for agreeing to a proposal by Cronje, then South Africa's captain, to underperform in the Nagpur one-day match against India in March.

Michael Kuper, a member of the three-man UCBSA disciplinary committee, said the sentences were designed to balance the interests of the players and of the game.

He said the panel took account of the influence Cronje had over the younger players and that they did not deliver the promised underperformance and were never paid.

A third player, Pieter Strydom, was acquitted of conspiring to bet on the outcome of the Centurion Park test against England in January.

"The reason that they were not banned from provincial cricket is that in the case of Gibbs he was on the threshold of a glittering international career which has now been disrupted by his own action," Kuper said.

"We have given proper consideration to the rules of the ICC (International Cricket Council), but felt that the imposition of a life ban would go beyond what is fair and proper under these circumstances," he said.

Gibbs was ordered to pay a 60,000 rand ($8,645) fine by October 31st and Williams was fined 10,000 rand ($1,439).

UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher said the mitigating factors were important. "The ultimate findings were unanimous by three top legal experts in South Africa. Who are we to dispute this?" he added.

If Gibbs and Williams pay their fines they could be eligible for a South African tour to the West Indies next year.