Cricket South Africa charges 'intermediary' with trying to fix Twenty20 games
South African cricket authorities have charged an unnamed ‘intermediary’ with attempting to fix matches in the country’s recently completed domestic Twenty20 competition.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) made the announcement on Tuesday without revealing the identity of the individual.
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The Board’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has charged a perpetrator under the ruling body's Anti-Corruption Code.
“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.”
CSA, as is the case with all the other international cricket Boards, is a signatory to the "Keep Cricket Clean" vision of the ICC which envisages the provision of a coordinated and effective world-wide capability to protect all cricket played under its auspices.
"Our attitude to corruption will always be one of zero tolerance and we are confident that we have the necessary structures in place to effectively deal with any corrupt activity," said CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.
"We will relentlessly pursue under our Code and the law of the land any persons we believe to be involved in corrupting the game and, with assistance from the Police, we will also seek criminal prosecution," added Lorgat.
The Ram Slam tournament was one of the most popular and lucrative domestic series, with a number of international players joining provincial franchises.
Commentators said the series had attracted the attention of international match-fixers because it was televised live across the globe.
The Pretoria-based Titans won the domestic Twenty20 competition on Saturday when they defeated the Dolphins from Durban in the final. Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen played for the Dolphins.
Image: The Titans celebrate their Ram Slam Twenty20 title win (Image used for representational purposes)
Photograph: CSA/Twitter
