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Former South Africa bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe charged with match fixing

POTCHEFSTROOM, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 25:  Lonwabo Tsotsobe of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Grant Elliott of New Zealand during the 3rd One Day In
Image: Lonwabo Tsotsobe of South Africa made his Test debut against West Indies in June 2010

Former South Africa bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been charged with match fixing and has been suspended immediately following a lengthy investigation, Cricket South Africa has confirmed.

The 33-year-old, who played five Tests and 61 One Day Internationals but has not played for more than a year, faces charges relating to the South Africa domestic Twenty20 Series in 2015.

Six further players have already been banned for their part in attempting to fix the outcome of games.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 10: Lonwabo Tsotsobe  (2L) of South Africa celebrates with AB de Villiers (2R) after capturing the wicket of Misbah ul Haq of Pa
Image: Tsotsobe (2L) featured for South Africa in the 2013 Champions Trophy

Gulam Bodi, a former Proteas one-day player who facilitated the scheme, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile and Alviro Petersen were previously banned for between two and 20 years for their part in the affair, although the CSA has long held the belief that no actual matches were fixed.

The charges against Tsotsobe, the former Proteas left-arm bowler, include contriving to fix or improperly influence a match or matches in the 2015 T20 Challenge Series and seeking to accept, accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe, a statement from CSA said.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe hasn't played any competitive cricket since late 2015
Image: Lonwabo Tsotsobe (L) hasn't played any competitive cricket since late 2015

He has only been provisionally suspended, suggesting there remains some doubt over his complete involvement in South Africa's domestic cricket match-fixing saga.

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