Late South Africa cricket captain Hansie Cronje, was honoured by ardent fans on his 44th birth anniversary on Wednesday.

The tainted cricketer died in a tragic airplane crash in 2002.

According to Sport24, despite his history and his role in the match-fixing scandal that rocked the Proteas in 2000, most fans either still regarded him as a hero, or had forgiven him.

A fan said that Cronje was the best captain the country ever had and that at least he had manned up to what he did.

Another fan praised the former captain for his field positions, his batting, bowling, and motivation to the team, calling him a legend in cricket.

Cronje was voted the 11th greatest South African in 2004 despite having been banned for life from professional cricket after an inquiry by the King Commission.

Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/ALLSPORT