By TELFORD VICE
Four names were added to cricket’s hall of shame yesterday – Thami Tsolekile‚ Ethy Mbhalati‚ Jean Symes and Pumelela Matshikwe.
They were banned for between seven and 12 years by Cricket SA (CSA) for attempts to fix matches in the 2015 domestic T20 competition. All admitted their guilt.
CSA said they were for “receiving a payment or incentive to fix or contrive to influence improperly a match or matches ...; making a payment which in the circumstances would bring the sport of cricket into disrepute; failing to disclose to the CSA anti-corruption officer a payment which they knew or ought to have known was given to them to procure a breach of the code ; failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct and failing to disclose full details ... evidencing a breach of the code by another participant”.
Symes’s seven years is for failing to disclose a payment “he knew or ought to have known was given to him to procure a breach of the code”; failing to disclose “details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct”; failing to disclose details evidencing a breach of the code by another participant, and providing false information to investigators.
The statement quoted all except Tsolekile as expressing remorse.
Mbhalati extended a “sincere apology” to CSA and the public, saying he “made a bad mistake which I will regret for a very long time”.
“I would like to do all I can to prevent other players finding themselves in difficult situation.”
Symes “deeply” regretted that at the end of a career “devoted to the sport of cricket‚ my clubs‚ teams and fellow players” he had contravened the “ethical code of conduct of CSA”.
“In hindsight I would have conducted myself differently. I regret any hurt or inconvenience my team‚ my fellow players‚ my family and friends and specifically CSA.”
Matshikwe apologised to “family‚ friends‚ ... fans of ... cricket‚ my teammates‚ Gauteng cricket‚ Lions cricket and especially to CSA”.
“I feel ashamed and I deeply regret being involved. I understand that I have to take responsibility and I accept the punishment CSA has imposed on me. I am truly sorry.”
But there is a modicum of good news. CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat said although they had all “accepted‚ or agreed to accept” money to procure a breach of the code, no actual fix in any match had been carried out.
So the nastiness was nipped in the bud. This time. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Cheats heaved into sordid hall of shame
Four names were added to cricket’s hall of shame yesterday – Thami Tsolekile‚ Ethy Mbhalati‚ Jean Symes and Pumelela Matshikwe.
They were banned for between seven and 12 years by Cricket SA (CSA) for attempts to fix matches in the 2015 domestic T20 competition. All admitted their guilt.
CSA said they were for “receiving a payment or incentive to fix or contrive to influence improperly a match or matches ...; making a payment which in the circumstances would bring the sport of cricket into disrepute; failing to disclose to the CSA anti-corruption officer a payment which they knew or ought to have known was given to them to procure a breach of the code ; failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct and failing to disclose full details ... evidencing a breach of the code by another participant”.
Symes’s seven years is for failing to disclose a payment “he knew or ought to have known was given to him to procure a breach of the code”; failing to disclose “details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct”; failing to disclose details evidencing a breach of the code by another participant, and providing false information to investigators.
The statement quoted all except Tsolekile as expressing remorse.
Mbhalati extended a “sincere apology” to CSA and the public, saying he “made a bad mistake which I will regret for a very long time”.
“I would like to do all I can to prevent other players finding themselves in difficult situation.”
Symes “deeply” regretted that at the end of a career “devoted to the sport of cricket‚ my clubs‚ teams and fellow players” he had contravened the “ethical code of conduct of CSA”.
“In hindsight I would have conducted myself differently. I regret any hurt or inconvenience my team‚ my fellow players‚ my family and friends and specifically CSA.”
Matshikwe apologised to “family‚ friends‚ ... fans of ... cricket‚ my teammates‚ Gauteng cricket‚ Lions cricket and especially to CSA”.
“I feel ashamed and I deeply regret being involved. I understand that I have to take responsibility and I accept the punishment CSA has imposed on me. I am truly sorry.”
But there is a modicum of good news. CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat said although they had all “accepted‚ or agreed to accept” money to procure a breach of the code, no actual fix in any match had been carried out.
So the nastiness was nipped in the bud. This time. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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