South African cricket authorities, Cricket South Africa (CSA) during December last year, had charged an unnamed "intermediary" with attempting to fix matches in the country's domestic Twenty20 competition, Ram Slam T20 Challenge. Now reports suggest that the concerned person is a former Proteas (South Africa national team player) and he is certain to face prison time for his actions.
In addition, a legal case is being prepared against a number of domestic players for corruption during this season's tournament. Other players are expected to be charged with the lesser crime of "failure to report" suspicious or illegal activity, reported Sport 24. CSA has remained tight-lipped about the incident and it will be interesting to see governing organisation in South Africa deal with the latest blight on the sport.
Also Read: 'Fixing' cloud hovers over South African cricket: CSA charges 'intermediary' for trying to fix games
CSA had made an announcement without revealing the identity of the individual. "The intermediary has been charged with contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence, aspects of the 2015 Twenty20 Challenge Series and with failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to co-operate with an investigation carried out by CSA's designated Anti-Corruption Official," CSA said in a statement.
"The provisional suspension means that the intermediary may not be involved in any capacity in any match or any other kind of function ... recognised or supported in any way by CSA, the ICC, a National Cricket Federation or any member of a National Cricket Federation," CSA added. "As is the standard practice with the ICC, neither CSA nor the ICC will make any further comment in respect of on-going investigations."
The Pretoria-based Titans won the domestic Twenty20 competition on Saturday when they defeated the Dolphins from Durban in the final.
(Inputs from Reuters)
