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Former Proteas goalkeeper Thami Tsolekile may make a sensational comeback to cricket after apparent “secret talks” to have his 12-year suspension for his involvement in match fixing lifted.
TimesLIVE may reveal that Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the players ‘union, the South African Cricketers’ Association (Saca), have recently contacted the former test player.
“That [CSA and Saca talking to Tsolekile behind the scenes] it’s been going on for a while now, and it has all happened in secret, “said one of three independent sources who spoke to TimesLIVE.
Two other sources also confirmed the behind-the-scenes discussions, which follow a public dispute earlier this year in which Tsolekile publicly questioned the 2016 CSA investigation that led to its ban.
Informants said CSA and Saca wanted Tsolekile to make a written submission to motivate why the 2016 sanction should be revoked.
Tsolekile told TimesLIVE that he did not know about the discussions between CSA and Saca. He declined to share details when asked about “secret conversations” between him and the beleaguered cricket corps.
“No, my brother, let’s leave this. I do not know what you’re talking about. I don’t want to talk about it, ”he said.
On Wednesday, the former Test player confronted TimesLIVE via WhatsApp about the “intent” of this report, asked where the information came from, and added: “You [are] trying to paint myself as a bad person and I asked you before … [what] you [are] trying to test on your story, and if you wanna write shit about [me] and lies … and I’ll take care of you. If you think you know me, trust me, you don’t. “
Confirmed talks
However, Saca admitted Wednesday that talks with Tsolekile were continuing through communications manager Zoli Xhola.
However, Xhola insisted that it was Tsolekile who had approached the players’ union: “We can confirm that Thami approached Saca and asked him how he should go about reducing his sanction for violations of the anti-corruption code. We inform you that the decision would rest with CSA and that you should therefore submit written submissions to CSA. “
CSA Acting Executive Director Kugandrie Govender said she was not aware of any conversations between the organization and Tsolekile, but admitted that such discussions could continue in one form or another without her knowledge.
“I’m not aware of it,” he told TimesLIVE. That being said, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the conversations you’re talking about aren’t happening or may be happening.
“It could be that these discussions are taking place on a different level and [those discussions] they haven’t reached me yet. Or it could be that there are no such conversations. I am not aware. “
At the time of publication, the CSA board had not responded with a statement to confirm or deny the discussions with Tsolekile, as promised on Wednesday.
Tsolekile, who played three Tests for the Proteas in the 2004/05 season against India and England, has already met with a Saca representative, according to high-level sources.
The Langa-born wicketkeeper was one of five former Lions players who were suspended for their role in the 2015 Ram Slam Twenty20 match-fixing scandal. Pumelela Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati, Alviro Petersen and Jean Symes were also present. sanctioned for violations of CSA anti-corruption regulations.
Some players were punished for allegedly accepting money from former bookmakers linked to Protea Gulam Bodi, who is serving a 20-year suspension for his leading role in the scandal. Others were sanctioned for failing to disclose the betting houses’ approaches, as required by the cricket body’s anti-corruption unit.
Tension between former players and CSA
The match-fixing scandal returned to the limelight in July this year when Proteas fast-pitcher Lungi Ngidi announced his support for the Black Lives Matter movement during a media interview. His stance opened a can of worms in the cricket fraternity when the former white Proteas attacked him for his opinions.
The move sparked tension with CSA when the former black players spoke publicly about what they called a perpetuation of the injustices they had experienced during their time in the Proteas fold.
Tsolekile gave three interviews in eight days on SABC Radio Marawa Sport Worldwide’s sports program in August to highlight the injustices he said he suffered during his time on the team.
Two other former Proteas, Petersen and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who were also subsequently suspended for two and eight years, respectively, for their alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal, also appeared on the SABC show.
Complaining that they had been targeted as black players and that they were not guilty of any settlement, but that they had been forced to sign pleas, they said the investigation lacked credibility and integrity.
Responding to the former players in a statement, CSA insisted that the credibility of the investigation had been unquestionable. He said the investigation had been carried out by his anti-corruption unit under the direction and authority of retired judge Bernard Ngoepe.
The latest revelations, about the talks with Tsolekile, are likely to bring new scrutiny to the players’ claims and amplify their reservations about the CSA’s handling of the investigation.
It is unclear if CSA and Saca also reached out to the other banned players, although Tsolekile’s commitments to the two corps put him on a potential collision course with the other banned players who may feel betrayed by having been excluded from the discussions.
Tsolekile turned 40 last week and he’s unlikely to return to cricket as a player if his conversations with CSA and Saca bear fruit. Insiders said he was looking to give back to the game while making a living from it, after not earning a steady salary for four years.
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