Former Warriors team-mates have come out in support of Lonwabo “Lopsie” Tsotsobe after news emerged yesterday that he was being investigated by Cricket SA for match-fixing.
Wisden India yesterday wrote that Tsotsobe had confirmed he was being investigated for match-fixing by CSA but denied accepting money to under-perform.
Tsostobe, who plays for the Lions, has been out of action for some time but would not confirm why.
His coach at the Lions, Geoffrey Toyana, significantly said he was still training with the team and had not been suspended.
Warriors players rallied around Tsotsobe yesterday, all of them supporting him.
His former captain, Davy Jacobs, said: “He left to play for another team while I was still there.
“I never had any problems with Lopsie in the team. Not once. He was always committed and in for the cause.”
Tsotsobe’s teammate Thami Tsolekile was implicated in media reports in January and has also not played for the Lions since.
Tsotsobe did not respond to requests for an interview from Tiso Blackstar yesterday, but earlier spoke to Wisden India.
“I’m not going to entertain any speculation, but Cricket South Africa can do anything they need to do to check if we did any match-fixing with the people that they are investigating,” Tsotsobe told Wisden India.
He said he had given CSA his phone bills, messages and bank account details and said he was told they would get back to him.
Tsotsobe says he did not accept money from Gulam Bodi, the “intermediary” who attempted to recruit players for the Ram Slam scam.
“That we can discuss with Cricket South Africa. If you want to know anything more about what’s going on you can ask them.”
Bodi has been banned from the game for 20 years for his role in approaching players.
CSA communications manager Altaaf Kazi said: “No comment on the matter as the investigation is still ongoing.”
Toyana declined to comment when asked why Tsolekile was not practising with the Lions. Calls to Tsolekile’s cellphone number went unanswered.
“Lonwabo has been coming to our training sessions but he’s not match fit yet,” Toyana said.
What about Tsolekile?
“Thami has not trained with us for the past six weeks,” Toyana added.
Both Tsolekile and Tsotsobe have been linked to the scandal in media reports, though no evidence has been brought against them publicly.
However, match-fixing suspects are likely to be suspended by CSA.
Tsotsobe, 31, burst on the local cricketing scene in 2004.
He made his first-class debut for EP against Boland, in Paarl, in 2004. In 2009 he made his debut for South Africa, a T20 against Australia in Melbourne.
He played five Tests, 61 ODIs and 23 T20 internationals for South Africa. His last international match was against Netherlands in the T20 World Cup in Chittagong in 2012.
Tsotsobe under investigation for match-fixing
Wisden India yesterday wrote that Tsotsobe had confirmed he was being investigated for match-fixing by CSA but denied accepting money to under-perform.
Tsostobe, who plays for the Lions, has been out of action for some time but would not confirm why.
His coach at the Lions, Geoffrey Toyana, significantly said he was still training with the team and had not been suspended.
Warriors players rallied around Tsotsobe yesterday, all of them supporting him.
His former captain, Davy Jacobs, said: “He left to play for another team while I was still there.
“I never had any problems with Lopsie in the team. Not once. He was always committed and in for the cause.”
Tsotsobe’s teammate Thami Tsolekile was implicated in media reports in January and has also not played for the Lions since.
Tsotsobe did not respond to requests for an interview from Tiso Blackstar yesterday, but earlier spoke to Wisden India.
“I’m not going to entertain any speculation, but Cricket South Africa can do anything they need to do to check if we did any match-fixing with the people that they are investigating,” Tsotsobe told Wisden India.
He said he had given CSA his phone bills, messages and bank account details and said he was told they would get back to him.
Tsotsobe says he did not accept money from Gulam Bodi, the “intermediary” who attempted to recruit players for the Ram Slam scam.
“That we can discuss with Cricket South Africa. If you want to know anything more about what’s going on you can ask them.”
Bodi has been banned from the game for 20 years for his role in approaching players.
CSA communications manager Altaaf Kazi said: “No comment on the matter as the investigation is still ongoing.”
Toyana declined to comment when asked why Tsolekile was not practising with the Lions. Calls to Tsolekile’s cellphone number went unanswered.
“Lonwabo has been coming to our training sessions but he’s not match fit yet,” Toyana said.
What about Tsolekile?
“Thami has not trained with us for the past six weeks,” Toyana added.
Both Tsolekile and Tsotsobe have been linked to the scandal in media reports, though no evidence has been brought against them publicly.
However, match-fixing suspects are likely to be suspended by CSA.
Tsotsobe, 31, burst on the local cricketing scene in 2004.
He made his first-class debut for EP against Boland, in Paarl, in 2004. In 2009 he made his debut for South Africa, a T20 against Australia in Melbourne.
He played five Tests, 61 ODIs and 23 T20 internationals for South Africa. His last international match was against Netherlands in the T20 World Cup in Chittagong in 2012.
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