Alviro Petersen And Kevin Pietersen Involved In War Of Words On Twitter

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen lashed out at ex-South Africa batsman Alviro Petersen after the latter expressed his delight over Gulam Bodi getting a five-year jail term. Bodi, who played for South Africa and the Lions, pleaded guilty to eight charges of corruption in one of the biggest scandals that has happened in South Africa.

Bodi became the first person to be imprisoned under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. The act came into effect in the aftermath of the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal in 2000. The act carries a maximum sentence of 15 years but the State asked for Bodi to receive five.

The former batsman was charged under the Act after being banned by Cricket South Arica for 20 years for his role in contriving to fix or otherwise influence aspects of the 2015 RamSlam T20 domestic tournament. Last year, Bodi had handed himself over to police and had pleaded guilty in November. He was due to learn his fate in January but several postponements delayed the same.

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Bodi will apply for leave to appeal and an extension of his bail. He was released on R3000 bail last (US$202) last year. But soon after Bodi learned his fate, Alviro Petersen took to Twitter to express his delight and called it a ‘great day for cricket’.

“Good day for cricket!!! Gulam Bodi just been sentenced to 5 years in prison. He will apply for leave to Appeal and to extend bail his bail, pending the outcome of the appeal,” wrote Alviro Petersen.

Good day for cricket!!!

Gulam Bodi just been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

He will apply for leave to Appeal and to extend bail his bail, pending the outcome of the appeal.

— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) October 18, 2019

However, Petersen’s tweet didn’t go down well with Kevin Pietersen and the latter was quick to respond. Pietersen reminded Petersen of his part in the match-fixing scandal.

“You’ve really tweeted this when YOU were banned for two years for the part YOU played?!?!
Wow!,” wrote Pietersen.

You’ve really tweeted this when YOU were banned for two years for the part YOU played?!?!
Wow!

— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) October 18, 2019

Apart from Bodi, six others players  Petersen, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile, Jean Symes, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Pumi Matshikwe received bans of between two and 12 years. However, none of the other players were pursued by police. Petersen has served his ban and now works as a commentator.

Meanwhile, Alviro Petersen also hit back at Pietersen by reminding him of his deeds when he was an England player. Petersen asked the South Africa-born England great to explain the reporting of his captain to the Proteas camp, tweeting:

What's wrong with it?

You seem to know a lot, why was I banned for 2 years?

While you are busy explaining, explain;

1. Reporting your captain to us in 2012, mid series?

2. Newlands test?

That's it, FOR NOW…!!

— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) October 18, 2019