Published: Jan 22, 2016, 10:06 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 22, 2016, 10:13 AM (IST)
The South African wicketkeeper-batsman Thami Tsolekile is the first cricketer who has been named for being under investigation in the Twenty20 match-fixing scandal that has rocked the country. The 35-year-old cricketer made his Test debut against India back in 2004, and since then he has played only three Tests for South Africa. Tsolekile played two Tests against India on that tour, at Kanpur and Kolkata. His last appearance for South Africa was against England in 2004 at Port Elizabeth. The cricketer from Western Province was centrally contracted with Cricket South Africa (CSA) as recently as 2013-14, and was even a part of the South African touring party to Australia in 2012. COMPLETE COVERAGE: South African match-fixing scandal
According to The Guardian, Tsolekile is believed to have been paid at least R75,000 ($6,46) to improperly influence a match in last year’s Ram Slam tournament, which is the premier domestic Twenty20 tournament in the African country. READ – South Africa Corruption Scandal: Two current Test players under scanner
In that tournament, Tsolekile captained the Highveld Lions and could face at least a five-year ban if he is found guilty of malicious activities.Under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, the wicketkeeper-batsman can also be criminally charged as the Act contains clause for sporting events. The law was passed in 2004, four years after Hansie Cronje was handed a life ban for his involvement in match-fixing.
The report added that one more former South African cricketer is believed to be under investigation alongside many domestic cricketers, who face possible charges of failing to report approaches to fix matches.
“No I don’t know anything about that. And I don’t want to comment anything about that,” said Tsolekile, who has not played for the Highveld Lions since the Ram Slam tournament last month. He missed four matches in the domestic First-Class competition as well.
