South Africa bans Bodi for 20 years for match-fixing

PRETORIA  – Former South Africa international Gulam Bodi has been banned from all cricket-related activities for 20 years after admitting he attempted to fix matches in the country’s domestic Twenty20 competition this season.

Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has welcomed the decision to ban Gulam Bodi for 20 years following reports of him attempting to fix matches.

“Minister Mbalula welcomes the swift response and strong action taken by Cricket South Africa as a sequel to allegations of match fixing levelled against Gulam Bodi and other suspected sportspersons.

“The disdain Cricket South Africa has shown against those self-seeking elements within the code, whose motives are to exploit the most vulnerable athletes and thereby corrupting this beautiful game, is commendable,” said the Department of Sport and Recreation in a statement on Tuesday.

The Minister said CSA must continue with its custodial duties of safeguarding sport by leaving no stone unturned in its investigation of match fixing.

“CSA must proactively install preventative measures to protect our athletes from these parasites and vultures.”

The Minister said South African cricket is gradually regaining its original grandeur. He said it was impressive to watch young players like Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma coming through the ranks.

Minister Mbalula is set to hold a meeting with the leadership of CSA today where he will receive a comprehensive report on the magnitude of match fixing and to deliberate on what is to be done to safeguard cricket.

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“We are fortunate in this instance that several players rejected his approaches.”

Cricket has been hit by several separate incidents of match-fixing in recent years.

Lorgat did not reveal if any players were being investigated for their potential roles in the saga, but CSA did confirm “certain aspects of the investigation are on-going”.

Bodi, who was born in India and moved to South Africa as a teenager, played two one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match for the national side in 2007.