Lancashire batsman Alviro Petersen has been banned from cricket for two years after admitting attempting to cover up a match-fixing scandal in South Africa
Cricket South Africa withdrew charges of match fixing against Petersen, but the 36-year-old has admitted 13 charges relating to the investigation that saw ex-South African player Gulam Bodi banned for 20 years.
Bodi was hit with the hefty ban in January after admitting attempting to fix matches in the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series, while four other players have been banned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Petersen, who has played for Lancashire for the last two seasons, has accepted he failed to report being approached over potential fixing, refusing to co-operate with investigators, and 'concealing and destroying information' relevant to the investigation. The case does not involve any matches in English domestic cricket.
"Former Proteas player Alviro Petersen has admitted to several breaches of Cricket South Africa's (CSA) Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel," read CSA's statement.
"As a result of his admissions, CSA has banned Petersen for two years.
"Petersen has admitted four charges of failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct under the code; four charges of failing to disclose full details of matters evidencing a breach of the code by another participant; four charges of failing to co-operate with the investigators by failing to provide accurate and complete information to them; and one charge of concealing and destroying information that was relevant to the investigation."
While Petersen has been hit with a ban, all charges surrounding fixing itself have been dropped.
The statement continued: "After considering representations made by Petersen, CSA has withdrawn certain charges against him, including those relating to fixing or contriving to fix any match and seeking, accepting or offering to accept any bribe or other reward to fix or influence any match."
Former South African Test opener Petersen had an option to return to play for Lancashire next season, but now won't be returning to Emirates Old Trafford.
A statement from Lancashire said: "Lancashire County Cricket Club respects the outcome of the recent proceedings between Alviro Petersen and Cricket South Africa (CSA), and as such can confirm that the player won’t be playing for the Club in the 2017 season."
Petersen cannot be involved in any international or domestic match sanctioned by Cricket South Africa or the International Cricket Council until November 12, 2018.
"At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money," Petersen said.
"I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do."
