Cricketer faces graft charges

FORMER Proteas and Highveld Lions player Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been charged by Cricket SA (CSA) with several breaches of its anti-corruption code.

The charges against Tsotsobe follow a lengthy investigation which was started by the national cricket body’s anti-corruption unit in October 2015.

Bans were subsequently imposed on players Gulam Bodi, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile and Alviro Petersen for offences relating to the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series.

Tsotsobe, 33, has been charged with:

Contriving to fix or otherwise improperly influence, or being party to a scheme in which attempts would be made to fix or otherwise improperly influence, a match or matches in the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series;

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 in the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series;

Failing to disclose the receipt of a gift or payment that he knew or ought to have known was given to him to procure a breach of the Code or that was made in circumstances that could bring him or the sport of cricket into disrepute;

Failing to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official without unnecessary delay full details of any approaches or invitations to engage in corrupt conduct under the code;

To date, Tsotsobe has not been under any form of suspension.

CSA has now provisionally suspended him from playing, coaching or otherwise being involved in any capacity in any match under its jurisdiction or that of the International Cricket Council (ICC) or any other ICC member.

In terms of the code and standard practice, CSA said it would not make any further comment on the matter.