CRICKET South Africa was lauded yesterday by the International Cricket Council, the world governing body, for trying to maintain the integrity of the sport and enforcing the ICC’s zero-tolerance stance against corruption at every level.
After an intensive investigation under the independent stewardship of former Constitutional Court Judge Bernard Ngoepe, which has already seen former Proteas international Gulam Bodi banned for 20 years due to his attempt to fix matches in last season’s Ram Slam T20 competition, CSA yesterday banned a further four players, including former Proteas Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, for breaching its Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel (“the Code”).
Tsolekile has been banned for 12 years, along with Highveld Lions franchise teammates Jean Symes (seven years) and Pumelela Matshikwe (10 years). Veteran Titans fast bowler Ethy Mbhalati will also serve a 10-year ban for his role in the 2015 Ram Slam T20 fixing case. Three years of Matshikwe’s ban will be suspended.
“I would like to commend my colleagues at Cricket South Africa for conducting such a thorough investigation and for working in partnership with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.
“Shared intelligence and co-operation is vital if we are to continue to drive corruption out of our sport,” ICC chief executive and former Proteas wicketkeeper Dave Richardson said yesterday.
“The sanctions are rightly strong and, I hope, will act as a deterrent to anyone thinking about getting involved in criminal activity of this nature, whether at international or domestic level. Under the ICC’s regulatory framework, these bans will be extended to prohibit these individuals from competing at international level or in any other domestic league anywhere in the world.”
The sanctioning of particularly Tsolekile, 35, and Mbhalati, 34, are potentially heavy blows to CSA’s ideals of growing and furthering the sport among the African communities. Both players were previously regarded as role models for many aspiring cricketers in Langa and Phalaborwa respectively, from where they hail.
CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat admitted “any senior player lost to the system is one too many”, but that “yes, it does impact on us because we are so focused on transformation”.
Judge Ngoepe, though, stressed that corruption does not see colour and that the suspended players’ deeds should be viewed accordingly.
Lorgat stated that CSA and the investigating team had engaged the SAPS, the Hawks and independent forensic experts during the course of the investigation and would continue do so until further notice.