Cricket SA praised as four more players banned
CRICKET South Africa was lauded by world governing body the International Cricket Council yesterday for trying to maintain the integrity of the sport and enforcing the ICC’s zero tolerance stance against corruption at every level.
After an investigation under the independent stewardship of former Constitutional Court Judge Bernard Ngoepe, that has already seen former Proteas international Gulam Bodi banned for 20 years because of his attempt to fix matches in last season’s RamSlam T20 competition, CSA banned a further four players yesterday, including former Proteas Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, for breaching its Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel.
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 RamSlam 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. What is particularly satisfying is that it appears that any intended wrongdoing was disrupted before it happened, meaning the domestic games in question went ahead without any act of corruption being committed,” 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. Both the intermediary and four of the players have accepted the sanctions and contributed to the investigation. 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 penalties against Tsolekile, 35, and Mbhalati, 34, are potentially heavy blows to CSA’s ideals of growing and furthering the sport among the Black African communities. Both were previously regarded as role models for many aspiring cricketers in Langa and Phalaborwa where they respectively hail from.
Transformation
CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat admitted that “any senior players lost to the system is one too many”, but “yes, it does impact on us because we are so focused on transformation”.
Judge Ngoepe, though, stressed that corruption was colour blind and that the suspended players’ deeds should be viewed accordingly.
“Many of us come from very poor backgrounds, but live according to good principles. I don’t subscribe to the notion that if you come from a poor background you should open yourself for corruption. I don’t accept that as justification for anyone who steals, murders or is corrupt. I don’t think we should use a different yardstick. That should not be an excuse,” Judge Ngoepe told a strong media contingent at Newlands yesterday.
South African Cricket Association chief Tony Irish believed that while it was disappointing that four players were banned yesterday, it was heartening that the various education programmes run by Saca surrounding the dangers of match-fixing facilitated the justice process.
“If it hadn’t been for education programmes, I don’t think the players would have come forward,” Irish said. “This investigation would never have happened.
“These are human beings, these are players who have gone astray. They are guys who perhaps need support and assistance in other ways. We will probably look to assist them in that way. This is the best education a player can get – to see what happens when it does go wrong.”
Lorgat said CSA and the investigating team had engaged with the SAPS, the Hawks and independent forensic experts during the course of the investigation and would continue do so.