Bacher spoke to Cronje several times after he was banned

Cronje, who received a life ban for involvement in match-fixing, died in a plane crash in June 2002.

Former South Africa cricket chief Ali Bacher said Cronje was seen as an icon by the whole country, black and white.

"Over time and with patience he could have played a part in a very important project," Bacher told BBC Five Live.

"He could have played a role in developing cricket in the townships. His heart was in the right place there."

I would have suggested to him to be low profile for a long while Ali Bacher

Cronje's ban extended to all playing and coaching under the auspices of the United Cricket Board of South Africa but Bacher believed he could have been rehabilitated gradually.

"The problem was once we had made a decision to hand over the whole issue to government our hands were tied," Bacher explained.

"We could not be seen to advise Hansie on how to handle the situation."

However, Bacher said he had spoken on the phone to Cronje on a number of occasions, that he "sounded terrible" and that his confidence had deserted him.

"Had he accepted my advice I would have suggested to him to be low profile for a long while. He wanted to get back into commentary too quickly," Bacher added.

"People in our country are very forgiving and that situation could have happened here.

"I think down the years he could have regained his confidence."