Zimbabwe Cricket bans a fan for approaching one of its players for SPOT FIXING

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has banned a ‘fan’ for approaching its national side’s fast bowler, Luke Jongwe for spot-fixing. The approach was made in August last year. At that time, India traveled to the Southern African nation for a three-match ODI series. The Men In Blue had rested most of its first-choice players with the Asia Cup followed next. Meanwhile, Jongwe immediately told his cricket board about this.

ZC issued a statement regarding the matter and revealed the name in it. The statement says that the ‘fan’ played the game and gave trials for a local club. It is said that the Zimbabwe pacer, Jongwe was approached by the ‘fan’ and was about to be introduced to a bookie. The bookmaker was meant to offer US $ 7000 for a specific result in a game.

“Edward Walter Mupangano, a 27-year-old cricket fan from Harare who in the past also had playing trials with a local club, received the sanction after he approached Luke Jongwe on 4 August 2022 and sought to introduce him to an Indian bookmaker who allegedly wanted the player to bowl in a pre-arranged manner during an international match in return for a payment amounting to US$7000,” ZC said in a statement.

“The facilitator himself would allegedly receive US$3000 if the planned corrupt activity was successful.”

Zimbabwe Cricket seeks criminalization of corruption in cricket

After the incident, the cricket board is seeking its government to make match-fixing or spot-fixing a criminal offense. They feel that the harsh sanctions might send out a message to the players in the future.

“It is our view that harsh sanctions, including custodial sentences, will go a long way in helping cricket to curb one of the biggest threats to its credibility,” ZC chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani said. “Criminalising match-fixing and spot-fixing will send a strong warning to offenders and would-be offenders that corruption has no place in cricket and those who engage in it should be jailed or put out of the game.”