Lawyers for Hansie Cronje, South Africa's disgraced former cricket captain, say they may sue the country's United Cricket Board (UCB) following his life ban. The lawyers have given the UCB till this afternoon to withdraw its resolution to ban the sportsman from cricket for life or face possible legal action.

Lawyer Leslie Sackstein said a letter to this effect was forwarded to the yesterday morning. "We believe that the resolution was unlawfully taken, and our letter also invites the UCB to inform the International Cricket Council of our view," Sackstein said.

He declined to say on what basis the resolution was viewed to be unlawful, claiming this was privileged information. The board last week passed a resolution to ban Cronje for life from all UCB-related activities, as well as those of its affiliates. Cronje has admitted accepting money from bookmakers to under-perform in one-day international matches.