Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat yesterday announced that former Proteas‚ Dolphins‚ Titans and Lions cricketer‚ Gulam Bodi‚ had been slapped with a 20-year ban from the sport‚ with five years of this suspended.
The sanction came after he confessed to “contriving or attempting to fix matches in the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series”.
Bodi‚ 37‚ was named by Cricket SA in December 2015 as an “intermediary” between players and match-fixers during the T20 tournament. He was suspended‚ with his actions reopening wounds that were first inflicted by former South African skipper Hansie Cronje.
Lorgat told a news conference that Cricket SA was fortunate that several players had rejected offers from Bodi.
As investigation was ongoing‚ he declined further comment on other players who might be implicated.
Expanding on the terms of the sanction‚ Cricket SA (CSA) said in a statement: “Bodi is immediately banned for a period of 20 years from participating in‚ or being involved in any capacity in‚ any international or domestic match or any other kind of function‚ event or activity (other than authorised anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programmes) that is authorised‚ organised‚ sanctioned‚ recognised or supported in any way by CSA‚ the ICC ‚ a national cricket federation or any member of a national cricket federation.
“Five of those years are suspended on condition that Mr Bodi commits no further offences under the code and demonstrates to CSA’s reasonable satisfaction that he has actively and constructively participated in corruption-related player education programmes when asked to do so.”
Lorgat added: “CSA thoroughly considered all the relevant factors and determined that a lengthy ban was appropriate. Our attitude to corruption will always be one of zero- tolerance. There is no doubt that Mr Bodi’s actions have threatened the integrity and image of the game that we love and he must be handed a strong punishment.”
He said Bodi “accepts the folly of his actions”. “We are fortunate in this instance that several players rejected his approaches and‚ as a direct result of our integrity processes‚ which include CSA and South African Cricketers’ Association player education programmes‚ the matter was brought to light and meticulously investigated.
“There are no winners in this sort of ill-fated and unfortunate matter. However‚ all of us in the cricket community must learn from this experience and remain vigilant.
“We expect that Mr Bodi himself will learn and will actively assist us in reminding players of the dangers of corrupt behaviour.”
Bodi handed long ban over match-fixing
The sanction came after he confessed to “contriving or attempting to fix matches in the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series”.
Bodi‚ 37‚ was named by Cricket SA in December 2015 as an “intermediary” between players and match-fixers during the T20 tournament. He was suspended‚ with his actions reopening wounds that were first inflicted by former South African skipper Hansie Cronje.
Lorgat told a news conference that Cricket SA was fortunate that several players had rejected offers from Bodi.
As investigation was ongoing‚ he declined further comment on other players who might be implicated.
Expanding on the terms of the sanction‚ Cricket SA (CSA) said in a statement: “Bodi is immediately banned for a period of 20 years from participating in‚ or being involved in any capacity in‚ any international or domestic match or any other kind of function‚ event or activity (other than authorised anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programmes) that is authorised‚ organised‚ sanctioned‚ recognised or supported in any way by CSA‚ the ICC ‚ a national cricket federation or any member of a national cricket federation.
“Five of those years are suspended on condition that Mr Bodi commits no further offences under the code and demonstrates to CSA’s reasonable satisfaction that he has actively and constructively participated in corruption-related player education programmes when asked to do so.”
Lorgat added: “CSA thoroughly considered all the relevant factors and determined that a lengthy ban was appropriate. Our attitude to corruption will always be one of zero- tolerance. There is no doubt that Mr Bodi’s actions have threatened the integrity and image of the game that we love and he must be handed a strong punishment.”
He said Bodi “accepts the folly of his actions”. “We are fortunate in this instance that several players rejected his approaches and‚ as a direct result of our integrity processes‚ which include CSA and South African Cricketers’ Association player education programmes‚ the matter was brought to light and meticulously investigated.
“There are no winners in this sort of ill-fated and unfortunate matter. However‚ all of us in the cricket community must learn from this experience and remain vigilant.
“We expect that Mr Bodi himself will learn and will actively assist us in reminding players of the dangers of corrupt behaviour.”
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