Top cricket writer and commentator, Neil Manthorp, has revealed that South African cricket is about to be rocked by a match-fixing scandal as big as any to have hit the game in South Africa.
According to Manthorp in his latest column which appears on the Rand Daily Mail Online, a legal case is being prepared against a significant number of domestic players for corruption during the recent Ram Slam Twenty20 tournament.
Manthorp then revealed that the ringleader, a former national player, is facing almost certain prison time. Others may be charged with the lesser crime of failure to report suspicious or illegal activity.
Cricket South Africa media officer Michael Owen Smith told AlgoaFM News that he had read Manthorp's column but that CSA would not be embellishing at this stage on its statement on the matter which it made late last year.
At the time, CSA stated that it was carrying out an investigation after gathering intelligence that an international syndicate was attempting to corrupt domestic cricket in South Africa.
Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgart, said the investigation was being led by CSA's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit which was being assisted by the International Cricket Council.
Lorgat said the investigation could also involve the South African Police Service.
