Petersen banned for two years

ALVIRO Petersen’s name became the biggest yet blackened in Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) ongoing match-fixing investigation yesterday.

Opening batsman Petersen, who played 36 Tests for South Africa between February 2010 and January 2015, accepted a two-year ban, according to a CSA release.

Petersen is the only one among the six tainted in the scandal so far who contested the charges before admitting his guilt. His sentence is the lightest. Gulam Bodi was banned for 20 years while Thami Tsolekile, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe and Ethy Mbhalati were barred from the game for between seven and 12 years.

All the charges arose from attempts to fix matches in the 2015 franchise T20 competition.

According to the release, “Petersen has admitted four charges of failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct under the code; four charges of failing to disclose full details of matters evidencing a breach of the Code by another participant; four charges of failing to co-operate with the investigators by failing to provide accurate and complete information to them; and one charge of concealing and destroying information that was relevant to the investigation.”

But it would seem that CSA declined to throw the book at Petersen quite as hard as the charge sheet suggested.

“After considering representations made by Petersen, CSA has withdrawn certain charges against him, including those relating to fixing or contriving to fix any match and seeking, accepting or offering to accept any bribe or other reward to fix or influence any match.”

Petersen, who has steadfastly maintained that his role in the saga was nothing more sinister than that of a whistleblower who was looking to expose the racket, was nonetheless contrite.

“I would like to apologise to my family, friends, the public who are fans of the game of cricket, my team mates, Gauteng cricket, Lions cricket and especially to CSA for my actions,” the release quoted him as saying.

“At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money.

“I understand that I need to take personal responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment that CSA has imposed on me.”

The ban means Petersen, 36, cannot play or commentate on cricket for the SABC.