Just not cricket – as Petersen is banned for two years
FORMER Proteas and Highveld Lions player Alviro Petersen has admitted to several breaches of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel, after the notice of charge issued to him by CSA on November 12.
As a result of his admissions, CSA has banned Petersen for two years.
The banning of Petersen follows a lengthy investigation and the previous imposition by CSA in January, of a twenty-year ban on former Proteas, Lions and Titans player Gulam Bodi after Bodi had admitted charges of contriving or attempting to fix matches in the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
Bodi acted as an intermediary for international betting syndicates, approaching certain players with a view to engaging in fixing activities during the competition. There were also four other players (Jean Symes (7), Pumelela Matshikwe (10), Ethy Mbhalati (10), Thami Tsolekile (12)) who admitted contraventions of the code and have been banned for periods ranging between seven and 12 years.
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 in- vestigators by failing to provide accurate and complete information to them; and one charge of concealing and destroying information that was relevant to the investigation.
After considering representations made by Petersen, CSA have withdrawn certain charges against him, including those relating to fixing or contriving to fix any match and seeking, accepting or offering to accept any bribe or other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.
Commenting on the ban, CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Our aim to deal thoroughly with any form of corruption in the game remains steadfast and we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the game.
“Alviro has realised his mistakes and has acknowledged contravening the code. He is obliged under the code to have disclosed various approaches that were made to him to engage in corrupt activities.
“While having provided certain information to the investigators, he had also withheld and concealed certain material information, such as the meetings with Bodi and certain fixers.This was directly relevant to the investigation and hence why we have imposed a two-year ban which Alviro accepts.”
Responding to the ban, Petersen said: “I would like to apologise to my family, friends, the public who are fans of the game of cricket, my teammates, Gauteng cricket, Lions cricket and especially, to Cricket South Africa for my actions. At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money.
“I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do. I understand that I need to take personal responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment that CSA has imposed on me.
“I hope that other players will learn from my experience and be better prepared if they find themselves in the situation that I was in, and that my punishment will serve as a deterrent.
“I also want to thank my family, friends and my legal team for their unwavering support and guidance during the last few months.” – ANA