16-year ago former South African skipper Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash. On his latest death anniversary, former South African pacer and teammate Allan Donald remembered him while another Protease pacer Dale Steyn called him a ‘hero’.
On June 1, 2002, tainted South African captain Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash at the age of just 32-year-old. Less than a year ago of his death, Cronje had been handed a life ban from cricket due to involving in match-fixing. That match-fixing incident shook the cricket world heavily.
However, Cronje was a great all-rounder and one of the best captains in the international cricket. The right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pacer played 68 Tests and 188 ODIs from 1992 to 2000 where he scored total 9,279 runs and took 157 wickets. He led the national side successfully in 191 games.
Despite having the name in the match-fixing scandal, Cronje was voted the 11th greatest South African in 2004. The cricketer is still remembered in the cricket world for his valuable contributions.
During his 16th death-anniversary, his old teammate and former South African pacer Allan Donald remembered him by calling ‘brother’. Cronje and Donald together played a total of 176 international matches.
Donald posted on his official Twitter account, “16 years ago you left us my brother. Every time when this day comes along I think about you and the times we had together as kids playing backyard cricket and rugby test matches. Missing you always Hansie you will never be forgotten. RIP.”
16 years ago you left us my brother. Every time when this day comes along I think about you and the times we had together as kids playing backyard cricket and rugby test matches. Missing you always Hansie you will never be forgotten. RIP 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wx0Z7RSJJI
— Allan Donald (@AllanDonald33) June 1, 2018
Later, Dale Steyn shared that post and added his own words too. Though he hadn’t seen Cronje as the former South African skipper died when Steyn was just 2 years old, the 34-year-old mentioned him as a ‘hero’.
Steyn wrote in his post, “Im 2 years older than Hansie was when he passed, but I’ll forever remember him through the eyes of my 11 year old self. Regardless of his mistakes, he was my then hero, he helped pave my direction to where I am today. RIP. God bless his close friends/family”
Im 2 years older than Hansie was when he passed, but I’ll forever remember him through the eyes of my 11 year old self. Regardless of his mistakes, he was my then hero, he helped pave my direction to where I am today.
RIP. God bless his close friends/family https://t.co/2OAWVDg1PQ— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 2, 2018
