Johannesburg - Their lives in cricket have ended and for the rest of their “other” lives the four will rue allowing greed to lure them into the dark underworld of match-fixing.
Thami Tsolekile, Ethy Mbhalati, Pumelela Matshikwe and Jean Symes were handed long bans by Cricket South Africa this week, ending any hopes they might have had of earning their living through the game.
Cricket SA found them guilty of breaching the board’s code of conduct against corruption.
It seems that, along with their greed, they can blame their former friend and teammate, Gulam Bodi, for providing the tempting bait.
It is understood Bodi also had discussions about match-fixing with four other South African players.
Cricket SA has declined to say whether it will also be taking action against these players.
Bodi, a former Proteas, Lions, Dolphins and Titans player, set up several meetings with the four cricketers.
He offered them hundreds of thousands of rand and expensive gifts in an attempt to convince them to tailor their bowling or batting performances in the 2015 Ram Slam T20 tournament in line with an international betting syndicate’s requirements.
Bodi was handed a 20-year ban by the cricket body earlier this year for admitting to contriving or attempting to fix matches in the T20 Challenge Series.
He also acted as an intermediary for international betting syndicates, approaching the cricketers about fixing matches during the competition.
Although no match-fixing took place during last year’s T20 tournament, Tsolekile, the former Proteas’ wicketkeeper, has been banned for 12 years.
Symes has been handed a seven-year ban, and Mbhalati and Matshikwe have each been banned for 10 years.
All four players have accepted the bans.
The bans have been in effect since the beginning of the month, and prevent them from participating or being involved in cricket in any capacity.
The Saturday Star has in its possession a 13-page Cricket SA “Notice of Disciplinary Charges” that details the alleged meetings that took place between Bodi and the cricketers. These are the charges Bodi was asked to answer to.
Thami Tsolekile
Tsolekile was contracted to the Lions franchise for the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
In late September, Bodi met Tsolekile and another teammate at a flat in Sandton. He offered them $50 000 each to participate in a fix.
Bodi also invited Tsolekile and his teammate to meet a group of men from India to arrange the fix.
The cricketers agreed to go out the following week and meet the men.
Bodi and Tsolekile met four Indian men at The Grand, an adult nightclub in Joburg, and discussed the fixing proposal.
The Indians arranged a VIP table and entertained the two cricketers at the club, with Bodi in their presence.
Tsolekile was handed a 12-year ban for “contriving to fix” games in the 2015 Ram Slam, and for failing to disclose the full details of an approach by people wanting to influence play.
Jean Symes
Symes was also contracted to the Lions franchise for the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
In September, Bodi invited Symes for lunch one afternoon at Nando’s in Corlett Drive, Joburg, with a view to persuade him to participate in a fix.
At this meeting, Bodi introduced the subject of spot-fixing and explained how it worked.
Bodi told Symes he would receive a sum of money for participating in a fix and what he would have to do.
He invited Symes to meet a group of men who would be arriving shortly in Joburg from India to arrange the fix.
He told Symes he would be paid $2 500 less $500 - which would be given to Bodi as commission - as well as a luxury watch of his choice for attending the meeting.
Symes was banned for seven years for failing to disclose a payment “he knew or ought to have known” had been given to him to breach the anti-corruption code.
Ethy Mbhalati
Mbhalati was contracted to the Titans franchise for the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
In September, Bodi invited Mbhalati for lunch at Nando’s in Corlett Drive, Joburg, with a view to persuade him to participate in a fix.
At the meeting, Bodi introduced the subject of spot-fixing and explained how this worked. He told Mbhalati he would receive money for participating in a fix.
Bodi invited him to meet men who would be arriving from India to arrange the fix.
He told the Titans bowler he would receive the sum of $2 500, less $500 - which would be paid to Bodi as commission - and a luxury watch of his choice for attending the meeting.
Mbhalati was handed a 10-year ban for receiving a payment or incentive to fix play in the 2015 Ram Slam, making an illegal payment, and failing to disclose a payment and approach to the anti-corruption unit. CSA did not give details of the payment made by Mbhalati.
Pumi Matshikwe
Matshikwe was also contracted to the Titans franchise for the 2015 Ram Slam.
In September, Bodi invited Matshikwe to a coffee shop at the Protea Fire & Ice in Melrose Arch, Joburg, with a view to persuade him to participate in a fix.
At their meeting, Bodi introduced the subject of match-fixing and explained how it worked.
Bodi told the Titans bowler he would receive money for participating in a fix and explained what he would have to do. He said Matshikwe could make up to R1 million by taking part in a fix.
Matshikwe was invited to meet a group of men who would be arriving in Joburg from India to arrange the fix.
Bodi told him he would receive $2 500 - less $500, to be paid to Bodi as commission - and a luxury watch of his choice for attending the meeting.
Matshikwe’s 10-year ban was for receiving a payment or incentive to take part in a fix in the 2015 Ram Slam, making an illegal payment, and failing to disclose a payment and approach to the anti-corruption unit.
The document also details Bodi’s alleged meetings with four other cricketers. On the grounds of legal advice, the Saturday Star is not revealing the names of these players.
Saturday Star