Lengthy ban for disgraced Bodi

Bodi, who was in IPL side Delhi Daredevils’ squad in 2012, was charged with several counts of contriving or attempting to fix matches of Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series on December 31, 2015 following an investigation conducted by CSA’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.

“It is quite likely that it’s the same people…at this stage I can’t tell you”, he said.

“We are fortunate in this instance that several players rejected his approaches and, as a direct result of our integrity processes the matter was brought to light and meticulously investigated”, he said.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat warned of an ongoing corruption threat to the global game after Gulam Bodi was banned for 20 years for attempted match-fixing.

Lorgat gave a hastily convened press conference at the tea break of the fourth Test between England and South Africa at Centurion. This is damaging to the reputation of cricket. “This is not unique to South Africa”, said Lorgat.

According to the latest reports, Bodi is believed to be the ring leader of the match-fixing activities by Afrikaans newspaper.

As match-fixing is illegal under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act Law in South Africa, Bodi could have faced the prospect of criminal charges but his lawyer Ayoob Kaka said they were not on the table at the present time.

Bodi was previously best known in England as the man whose selection ahead of Kevin Pietersen for Natal, under South Africa’s quota system, persuaded the latter to switch allegiance to the Three Lions. “We have had many discussions with Mr Bodi and he accepts the folly of his actions”, added Mr Lorgat.

By admitting his offences he escaped a life ban and five years of his suspension will be lifted if he agrees to take part in anti-corruption education programmes.

“There are no winners in this ill fated and unfortunate matter however all of us in the cricket community must learn from these experiences and remain vigilant”. “I expect Mr Bodi to co-operate with us but that’s a condition of his suspended sentence as well”.