Commission only just gets under way.

The King Commission into corruption in cricket got underway on Monday with a meeting in Cape Town between Justice Edwin King and Minister of Sport Ngconde Balfour, but when and where the first witness will be heard remains to be seen.

At a media briefing following the meeting, little light was shed on the public aspect of the commission. When Justice King's appointment was announced last week, both the Sports Minister and his Justice counterpart, Penuel Maduna expected the hearings to take place at the Department of Justice in Pretoria.

The recently retired, 71-year-old Judge King, however, is known to favour Cape Town and it would be a surprise if the Departments of Sport and Justice do not accede to his wishes.

It is also unlikely that any witnesses will give evidence this week, although Judge King stressed that if the necessary groundwork was carried out prior to witnesses being called, the commission would be able to complete its work sooner rather than later.

As for as the public is concerned, then, it seems a safe bet to say that no evidence will be heard until at least next Monday, probably in Cape Town.

Judge King was also not able to say who the first witness would be, although it is certain that former South African captain Hansie Cronje will be prominent in the early stages of the hearings. Also likely to be called to give evidence are Cronje's team-mates on the South African tour of India this year, notably Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom who have been implicated by Indian police in a match-fixing investigation.

The commission will also look into reports that the 1996 South African team in India rejected a $250 000 offer to throw a match. Retired players such as Dave Richardson, Andrew Hudson, Brian McMillan and Pat Symcox are likely to be called.

A five-page statement from United Cricket Board managing director Ali Bacher concerning his allegations that two World Cup matches last year were fixed and that a Test umpire accepted bribes will also be handed to the commission as evidence.