Herschelle Gibbs arrested for drunk driving at high speed

Johannesburg: Controversial South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs, who was earlier implicated in the 2000 match-fixing scandal in India, is in trouble again after being arrested for allegedly drunk driving at a high speed.

Gibbs, who caused a stir when he published a book a few years ago with damning disclosures about the Proteas that angered his team, was charged with drunk driving after his car crashed into another in his home town at Cape Town late on Sunday night.

But after being released, it was learnt that Gibbs will only appear in court to answer the charges almost a year from now, on November 25 next year.

Some people are now questioning why Gibbs is being let off so lightly for repeated offences. In 2009, Gibbs faced a similar charge of drunken driving but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) withdrew the charges after he agreed to do 100 hours of community service, including involvement in a sporting development programme for children.

This was after a month-long stay at a rehabilitation centre to address his drinking problem.

The once top batsman has played 90 Tests, 248 ODIs and 23 T20s before his last game in 2010, when he fell into disfavour with his colleagues for revelations in his best-selling autobiography of sexual orgies, and illegal marijuana smoking by his teammates.

Gibbs was also implicated in the 2000 match-fixing scandal in India that brought down then captain Hansie Cronje and precipitated the worst international crisis in cricket.