Vincent blames ex-international for pushing him
WELLINGTON : Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent has reportedly revealed to ICC’s anti-corruption investigators that he was involved in fixing in the rebel Indian Cricket League as he came under the influence of an ‘international star’ to whom he could not say no.
Vincent’s sensational disclosure was made during the ICC’s Anti- cor ruption and security unit (ACSU) investigation, a report said. The former opening batsman has implicated many players and 12 matches, including three in the English domestic circuit between 2008 and 2011. New Zealand agency Stuff.
co.nz has reported that Vincent claimed he was threatened by that international star, who waved a bat near his head when he failed to keep his side of the bargain after hitting a six when he was trying to be stumped in the now-defunct ICL.
Vincent was quoted as saying in ICC documents that he could not shake off the man, although he did not want to throw away the chance of getting ‘all that money’. When one of the fixing deals failed, he incurred the wrath of ‘ that man’, who accused him of ‘ costing him millions’ and ‘fixing for someone else’.
However, he is said to have justified fixing games in England because his contract with Sussex was ‘ only for 22,000 pounds’ and he was unhappy at how the England board had made him wait three years for a British passport.
For mer New Zealand Cricket CEO, Justin Vaughan has said he finds the Vincent situation depressing because he had known him for many years and that he had a welldocumented history of mental problems that he has battled.
With matches in the 2012 Champions League T20 held in South Africa under the scanner, the South African cricketers’ body chief, Tony Irish, has said he would surprised if any player from the country was involved as no player had reported anything to the players body or the national board.
PHONE CURBS
England batsman Ian Bell wants the board to bar players from using their phone during play. Bell feels there is a big gap between measures taken at international level and at domestic games.
The ECB however has said it does not feel the situation is serious enough for a clampdown.