One by one the names will emerge, Gulam Bodi and his cohorts set to face the wrath of Cricket South Africa and their legal team.
Monday saw more details from the scandal emerge, the staggering amounts of money being tossed around to alter matches making it clear that the fixers meant business.
Now another player has been named, this time the Guardian digging up the dirt:
The former Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile has been revealed as one of the players under investigation in the Twenty20 corruption scandal that has rocked South African cricket.
The Guardian has learned Tsolekile, who played the last of his three Tests for South Africa 12 years ago but has been in their squad as recently as March 2014, is alleged to have been paid at least R75,000 (£3,100) to improperly influence an aspect of last year’s Ram Slam competition.
Tsolekile captained the Highveld Lions in the tournament and, according to Cricket South Africa’s anti-corruption code, could face a minimum five-year ban if found guilty of wrongdoing…
When contacted by the Guardian, Tsolekile said: “No I don’t know anything about that. And I don’t want to comment anything about that.”
A spokesperson for Cricket South Africa declined to comment while the investigation is continuing.
Tsolekile played three tests for South Africa, with his last appearance back in 2004. He also captained the Highveld Lions in last year’s T20 competition with the team finishing second from bottom. At least this may finally put to bed the notion that Tsolekile deserves a recall to the national set up, something all genuine SA cricket fans will be relieved about.
The Guardian also revealed that a player from the Pretoria-based Titans franchise was approached by Bodi but rejected his offer. The player did fail to report the approach however, meaning he could still face legal action for failing to do so.
More on the story from TimesLive:
Asked whether Tsolekile was involved and when Bodi would answer the charges, CSA spokesman Altaaf Kazi said: “I can’t confirm anything”…
Told of Tsolekile being identified in the media, his coach at the Lions, Geoff Toyana, said: “Are you serious? I’m very surprised to hear that.”
Gauteng Cricket Board president Thabang Moroe said the board was in the dark as to whether Tsolekile had been implicated but said that Bodi did not have his Lions contract renewed at the start of the season.
“It’s all speculation and it’s either everything is true or everything is a lie,” Moroe said. “We don’t know anything and we have no clue as to where the information is coming from.”
Name and shame Cricket South Africa, if you’re seen to be protecting the players then it will only do further harm to a reputation that’s already being dragged through the mud.
