Johannesburg - Did former Proteas' batsman Gulam Bodi receive a fair sanction for his involvement in attempting to fix matches in the 2015 Ram Slam Twenty20 tournament?
This is the question that has exercised the minds of cricket fans around the world following the latest match-fixing scandal to have hit South Africa.
Cricket South Africa banned the former Lions, Dolphins and Titans cricketer two weeks ago from all cricket-related activities for 20 years, after he admitted attempting to fix matches during the tournament last year.
Bodi also faces criminal charges under the country's anti-corruption laws, introduced after the 2000 match-fixing saga involving the late Hansie Cronje.
Cricket SA has submitted all information on the match-fixing attempts by Bodi to the SAPS.
The SAPS, according to Cricket SA, will deal with criminal aspects of the investigation.
Although no matches were fixed as Bodi was caught in the planning phase, many cricket fans think the ban handed him is justified.
Former Proteas' captain Graeme Smith has gone as far as saying the cricket authorities need to make an example of him and of anyone else implicated.
Others, however, say Cricket SA has been too harsh on the 37-year-old, considering no match-fixing took place and that many other cricketers found guilty of match-fixing have received less severe bans.
Jonhenry Wilson, a writer for ESPNcricinfo, SA Cricket Magazine and Wisden India, believes CSA’s ban on Bodi is “spot-on”.
“The fixing never happened, supposedly, but the intent and admission were there,”says Wilson.
“Imagine that the ban was for a mere five or less years, Bodi could feasibly play again in his early 40s.
“It would be a slap in the face for new and old fans alike - and, of course, those who work tirelessly to expose such corruption.
“The correct precedent and warning has been set.”
Wilson says, however, that sanctions have been inconsistent in cricket.
“That's going to start to even out now.
“Statutes and stipulations on match- and spot-fixing punishments vary from country to country.
“This is all relatively new to the various boards. With more and more incidents being exposed, a hierarchy - of sorts - for various levels of fixing will probably be established.”
Cricket enthusiast Nooreen Surtee says although the ban handed down to Bodi is harsh, the cricketer needs to account for his actions.
“Twenty years is a long time, and some may argue that it is quite unfair, considering nothing took place, but I’m not a fan of anything that hurts the game.
“Attempting or contriving to fix a match and actually doing this should be dealt with in the same manner.”
Joburg cricket enthusiast Ron Hobson does not agree that the 20-year ban given to Bodi is fair
“I don’t understand the ban. A Pakistani player was caught match-fixing and he got a five-year ban. Bodi got 20 years for planning match-fixing.
“If it was in the planning phase, why such a harsh stance?
“Many Aussie players pleaded guilty, were fined, and continued playing.”
Abdul Shakeel, a cricket expert in Pakistan, says he is “confused” by the length of the ban.
“What a contrast! In South Africa, Bodi admits his crime and is given a 20-year ban and, here in Pakistan, Mohammad Amir admits guilt and is handed a five-year ban.
“Herschelle Gibbs also got off lightly for his role in planning (during Cronje’ s captainship) to fix matches.
“Gibbs didn’t receive a 20-year ban back then, so why has Bodi been given such a long ban?”
While opinions remain divided on the 20-year ban, the Saturday Star looks at some of the most prominent match-fixing cases and the sanctions handed out to the cricketers.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir
Country: Pakistan
Crime: In 2010 the Pakistani trio were charged with spot-fixing. They deliberately bowled no balls at set times during a Lord’s Test match against England. The ICC handed them bans, and a court later convicted them and sentenced them to jail terms.
Ban: Butt was banned for 10 years, Asif for seven years and Amir for five years.
Mohammad Azharuddin
Country: India
Crime: Allegations of match-fixing were made against Azharuddin after Hansie Cronje confessed in 2000 and named him as the main person who introduced the bookies to him. A Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry followed and Azharuddin eventually admitted to fixing three ODI matches.
Ban: He received a lifetime ban that was lifted six years later.
Hansie Cronje
Country: South Africa
Crime: Cronje was charged by Delhi police during the one-day international series against India in March 2000. Transcripts of his conversations with a bookie provided evidence. After initial denials, Cronje confessed to having received more than $100 000 since 1996 from bookies in return for match information and spot-fixing. Herschelle Gibbs, Henry Williams and Nicky Boje were also linked and given a two-year ban.
Ban: Cronje was banned for life by the South African Cricket Board.
Marlon Samuels
Country: The West Indies
Crime: The West Indian cricketer was accused by the Indian police of leaking team information to a bookie before their match against India in 2007. The police claimed to have a taped conversation between Samuels and a bookmaker, Mukesh Kochchar.
Ban: Samuels was banned by the International Cricket Council for two years after being found guilty of breaking rules. After his ban ended, he returned to cricket, playing for Jamaica and then for the West Indies.
Maurice Odumbe
Country: Kenya
Crime: Following allegations of match-fixing in the year 2004, the International Cricket Council found Odumbe guilty of receiving money from bookmakers. He was subsequently banned. After his ban ended, he returned to cricket but at a domestic level.
Ban: Five years.
Shane Warne, Mark Waugh
Country: Australia
Crime: Two of the greatest names in the history of Australian cricket were guilty of supplying information about pitch, weather and team selection to an Indian bookmaker during their side's 1994 tour to Sri Lanka. In return, they are believed to have received more than £6 000 from the Indian bookmaker.
Ban: They were not banned and received fines said to be as much as $15 000.
Saturday Star