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CSA suspends Lonwabo Tsotsobe from all forms of cricket on charges of match-fixing

Lonwabo Tsotsobe has in all played 89 times for South Africa across all three formats.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe has played 61 ODIs, 23 T20Is and 5 Tests for South Africa © Getty Images (representational photo )
Lonwabo Tsotsobe has played 61 ODIs, 23 T20Is and 5 Tests for South Africa © Getty Images (representational photo )

Johannesburg: Former South African fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been charged with corruption over fixing allegations surrounding a 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series fixture, Cricket SA said on Monday. The left-arm seamer, 33, is charged with “seeking to accept‚ accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe or reward to fix or contrive to fix or influence improperly a match or matches,” CSA said in a statement. He will be temporarily suspended from involvement in any fixture under ICC rules.  Tsotsobe has in all played 89 times for the Proteas across all three formats, including five Tests, taking 121 international wickets and topped the ODI rankings in 2012.

“The charges against Tsotsobe follows a lengthy investigation which started around October 2015 by CSA’s Anti-Corruption Unit, and the previous finding and bans imposed… for offences under the Code relating to the (tournament),” it said. Tsotsobe has previously denied involvement in the case. Thami Tsolekile, Gulam Bodi‚ Pumi Matshikwe‚ Jean Symes‚ Ethy Mbhalati‚ and Alviro Petersen were found guilty of offences similar to those with which Tsotsobe is charged, local media reported. They were banned from all aspects of the game for between seven and 20 years.

During this mentioned period above, six players have been banned for being involved in corruption. The worst hit of them all was former South Africa player Gulam Bodi, who handed a 20-year ban after admitting to serving as an intermediary between fixers and players. Others who were banned were Thami Tsolekile (12 years), Pumelela Matshikwe (10), Ethy Mbhalati (10), Jean Symes (7) and Alviro Petersen (2).

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