Cape Town - Although he had played no domestic cricket in South Africa this season, now-banned batsman Alviro Petersen might well have been on course for a third season with Lancashire in 2017.
But the former Proteas and Lions opener, suspended for two years by Cricket South Africa on Wednesday after admitting to 13 breaches of CSA’s Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel - related to misconduct over last year’s RAM SLAM T20 Challenge - has now had the door bolted on him by the county outfit as well.
Old Trafford-based Lancashire issued a statement after the announcement of Petersen’s ban, saying: “Lancashire County Cricket Club respects the outcome of the recent proceedings between Alviro Petersen and Cricket South Africa, and as such can confirm that the player won’t be playing for the club in the 2017 season.”
Until recently, prospects appeared good that the 36-year-old, whose two-year deal ended at the completion of the last English season, would be back with them in 2017.
He was quoted in the Manchester Evening News in September as saying: “If they want me to come back then I’ll be back ... we’ll chat about it.”
Just based on 2016 form, it seemed to make sense for Lancashire to secure him for a further season: he had registered 1 134 County Championship runs at an average of just under 50, including three centuries and six half-tons.
Petersen, however, cannot be involved in any international or domestic match sanctioned by CSA or the International Cricket Council until November 12, 2018.
He will be a couple of weeks short of his 38th birthday by then, and it is unclear whether he will try to resume his first-class career.