Cricket South Africa charges an unnamed player with match-fixing

CSA has charged an intermediary with match-fixing during the recently concluded Ram Slam Challenge 2015

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has charged an unnamed intermediary for attempting to fix matches during the recently concluded domestic T20 tournament, the Ram Slam Challenge. The player has been charged under CSA’s anti-corruption code for ‘contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the game.’

The individual has also been accused of not cooperating with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit under the Article 4.7.1 of the code. The ACSU charged the person with ‘failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with an investigation carried out by CSA's Designated Anti-Corruption Official.’

The accused will now be required to respond to the charges.

"The provisional suspension means that the intermediary may not be involved in any capacity in any match or any other kind of function, event or activity (other than authorised anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programmes) that is authorized, organised, sanctioned, recognised or supported in any way by CSA, the ICC, a National Cricket Federation or any member of a National Cricket Federation," CSA said.

CSA’s chief executive Haroon Logart said, “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.”

“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.”

The tournament, which was played between Novermber 1 and December 12 was won by the Titans, who defeated the Dolphins in the final to win the tournament.

Given the threat of corruption that has loomed large over cricket in the recent past, this step from the vigilant CSA is a welcome one.

It was only a few months ago that two teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended from the league for two years following the verdict of the Justice Lodha Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to investigate into the IPL Corruption Scandal of 2013.

All possible precautions must be taken in this regard, and instances like these must be nipped in the bud, before they prosper and plague the environment around.

Not only do these incidents deplete the quality of cricket being displayed on the field, but it also takes the sanctity away from the game as the fans and the cricket fraternity in general feel deceived and cheated in the name of sports and entertainment.