Tsotsobe charged in match-fixing probe
FORMER Proteas and Highveld Lions swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe became the latest cricketer yesterday to be charged by Cricket South Africa (CSA) with breaches of its anti-corruption code.
Tsotsobe, who is back living in Port Elizabeth, said yesterday he had already sought legal advice.
“I have spoken to my lawyers and the matter is being dealt with by them,” he said.
“I have no further comment to make.”
The left-armer made his name on the domestic and international scene while based in the Bay with the Warriors in the early part of his career.
The charges follow a lengthy investigation, which started in October 2015 and has already resulted in Gulam Bodi, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile and Alviro Petersen being slapped with bans.
The offences relate to the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
Bodi was banned for 20 years in January for serving as a middleman between fixers and players.
The others were banned for between two and 12 years by CSA for attempts to fix matches during the domestic T20 competition two years ago.
CSA sent out a statement yesterday confirming that Tsotsobe, 33, had been charged “with among other offences, the following significant charges”:
ý 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;
ý 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;
ý 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; and ý 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.
“Under Article 4.7 of the code, CSA has now provisionally suspended Tsotsobe from playing, coaching or otherwise being involved in any capacity in any match under its jurisdiction or that of the ICC or any other ICC member,” CSA said in the statement.”