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Cape Town - The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday welcomed the findings of a Cricket South Africa (CSA) investigation that has seenfour players banned for between seven and twelve years for breaching its anti-corruption code for personnel.
The investigation, led by CSA under the independent stewardship of former Constitutional Court Judge Bernard Ngoepe, and supported throughout by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, reinforces the ICC’s zero tolerance stance against corruption at every level.
The players banned were identified as Jean Symes, Ethy Mbhalati, Pumelela Matshikwe and Thami Tsolekile.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson commented: “I would like to commend my colleagues at Cricket South Africa for conducting such a thorough investigation and for working in partnership with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit. Shared intelligence and cooperation is vital if we are to continue to drive corruption out of our sport. What is particularly satisfying to note is that it appears that any intended wrongdoing was disrupted before it happened, meaning the domestic games in question went ahead without any act of corruption being committed.
“The sanctions are rightly strong and, I hope, will act as a deterrent to anyone thinking about getting involved in criminal activity of this nature whether at international or domestic level. Both the intermediary and four of the players have accepted the sanctions and contributed significantly to the investigation. Under the ICC’s regulatory framework, these bans will be extended to prohibit these individuals from competing at international level or in any other domestic league anywhere in the world.
“I would also like to place on record my sincere thanks to those who reported their concerns to the cricketing authorities in the first instance and who were therefore the catalyst for the whole investigation. Without honest players doing the right thing our job would be even harder.”
The banning of these four players follows lengthy investigations and the previous imposition by CSA in January 2016 of a 20-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.
