Former fast bowler Lonwabo Sotsobe (right) is accused of match-fixing. Image credit source: AFP
The first match of the Test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka is currently being played in Durban. In this match, the hosts South Africa are in a strong position and are only 5 wickets away from victory. While on one hand this is great, good and proud news for South African cricket, at the same time embarrassing news has also reached it. A former experienced player who played almost 100 international matches for South Africa has been arrested on match-fixing charges. A South African criminal investigation department arrested former fast bowler Lonwaho Tsotsobe on Friday, November 29. In addition to Sotsobe, two other former players have also been arrested.
South Africa’s Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has reportedly arrested three players in a nine-year-old match-fixing case. In addition to Tsotsobe, the arrested players also included Tamsanka Solekile and Athi Mbalati. Apart from this, Solekile played 3 test matches for South Africa but could not do anything special. He also played 160 first-class games. Mbalati never debuted for South Africa, but had a long career in domestic cricket and played 129 first-class matches.
The arrest of these three is related to match-fixing in Cricket South Africa’s former T20 tournament, ‘Ram Slam’. The three were accused of match-fixing in this tournament, following which Cricket South Africa suspended these players. Mbalati was reportedly arrested on November 18 and produced in court. Where his hearing was postponed until February 20, 2025. Solekile was arrested on the 28th and Sotsobe was arrested on November 29. An investigation was carried out against all of them for a long time. This investigation began in 2016 after a whistleblower revealed match-fixing at the tournament.
(News are being updated)
