Former South African test cricket players Thami Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe have been detained in connection with ongoing investigations into match-fixing allegations. They face charges of corruption, which could lead to substantial prison sentences if they are found guilty.

The two athletes had already been subject to lengthy bans from cricket, alongside several other players implicated in the scandal.

Authorities reported that Tsolekile and Tsotsobe were taken into custody last month, related to a match-fixing case concerning a domestic tournament held in South Africa in 2015. Upon their appearance in a specialized commercial crimes court in Pretoria on Friday, they faced five charges under the country’s anti-corruption legislation.

The anti-corruption law stipulates that offenders could receive prison sentences of up to 18 years under specific circumstances. However, two additional players previously charged in connection with the same scandal received suspended sentences.

Tsolekile, now 44, played three test matches for the national team roughly two decades ago and was handed a 12-year ban from all forms of cricket in 2016. Tsotsobe, who is 40 years old, played as a seam bowler for South Africa in tests, one-day internationals, and T20 matches from 2009 to 2014, and he received an eight-year ban in 2017.

Additionally, another cricketer from the domestic circuit, Ethy Mbhalati, was also arrested last month and faces corruption charges alongside Tsolekile and Tsotsobe.

An extensive investigation by cricket governing bodies into the scandal that unfolded during South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 competition in 2015 revealed that players were allegedly approached by former international batsman Gulam Bodi. He allegedly sought their involvement in fixing matches or segments of games for Indian bookmakers. Bodi has since been sentenced to five years in prison for his attempts to influence players.

While investigators indicated that players discussed potential match-fixing scenarios, they do not believe any fixing actually took place.

Additional arrests were made in 2021 and 2022 concerning other players involved in this scandal, who have since received suspended sentences ranging from four to six years after admitting their guilt.

A specialized police unit has been conducting ongoing investigations into Tsolekile and Tsotsobe since 2016.