The former South Africa all-rounder Gulam Bodi has emerged as the “intermediary” under investigation for alleged match-fixing during the recent Ram Slam Twenty20 competition.
Bodi, who won three limited-overs caps for South Africa in 2007, has been named by the Afrikaans news outlet Netwerk24 as the individual charged by CricketSouth Africa in December with “contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects” of matches in the tournament.
The 37-year-old, who was born in India but emigrated to South Africa as a teenager, did not feature in the tournament as a player, having last turned out in domestic cricket for the Highveld Lions in January 2015.
When contacted for comment by Netwerk24, Bodi replied: “No, absolutely no comment, sorry.”
Cricket South Africa later confirmed that Bodi was the intermediary charged under its anti-corruption code.
In a statement it said: “Bodi has been charged with contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
“Following our investigations and due process, we have reached a point where we can confirm that Mr Bodi is the intermediary who was charged by CSA in early December 2015 under the CSA anti-corruption code.
“Mr Bodi is presently co-operating with the CSA anti-corruption officials. We now await his response to the charges and the matter will take its course in accordance with the process outlined in the Code.”
Pending receipt of his response, Bodi has been provisionally suspended under article 4.7.1 of the code. The provisional suspension means that Bodi 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 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.
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“In accordance with the provisions of the code, CSA will not comment publicly on the specific facts of this matter as the case is pending.”
Bodi faces a possible jail sentence if the case goes to court, with match-fixing illegal in South Africa since the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act Law was passed in 2004.
The law, which contains a clause for sporting events, was introduced four years after the former captain Hansie Cronje admitted to his role in manipulating international games and was hit with a life ban from the sport.
Speaking in December, Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s chief executive, 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 Ram Slam tournament was televised in India where, despite gambling being illegal, bookmaking is a billion-dollar black market industry.
The 37-year-old, who was born in India but emigrated to South Africa as a teenager, did not feature in the tournament as a player, having last turned out in domestic cricket for the Highveld Lions in January 2015.
When contacted for comment by Netwerk24, Bodi replied: “No, absolutely no comment, sorry.”
Cricket South Africa later confirmed that Bodi was the intermediary charged under its anti-corruption code.
In a statement it said: “Bodi has been charged with contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series.
“Following our investigations and due process, we have reached a point where we can confirm that Mr Bodi is the intermediary who was charged by CSA in early December 2015 under the CSA anti-corruption code.
“Mr Bodi is presently co-operating with the CSA anti-corruption officials. We now await his response to the charges and the matter will take its course in accordance with the process outlined in the Code.”
Pending receipt of his response, Bodi has been provisionally suspended under article 4.7.1 of the code. The provisional suspension means that Bodi 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 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.
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“In accordance with the provisions of the code, CSA will not comment publicly on the specific facts of this matter as the case is pending.”
Bodi faces a possible jail sentence if the case goes to court, with match-fixing illegal in South Africa since the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act Law was passed in 2004.
The law, which contains a clause for sporting events, was introduced four years after the former captain Hansie Cronje admitted to his role in manipulating international games and was hit with a life ban from the sport.
Speaking in December, Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s chief executive, 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 Ram Slam tournament was televised in India where, despite gambling being illegal, bookmaking is a billion-dollar black market industry.
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