Vincent pleads guilty to bookie approach
New Zealander admits knowing about match-fixing in Bangladesh.
Lou Vincent is likely to face a sanction from the BPL tribunal after pleading guilty of the bookie’s approach. PHOTO: AFP
WELLINGTON:
Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent confirmed Thursday that he failed to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match in Bangladesh, but said that was the extent of any wrongdoing.
Vincent said he had pleaded guilty to breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code by not reporting the approach while playing in the scandal-tainted Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) last year.
“I confirm I rejected this approach at the time,” said Vincent in a statement. “There is no allegation or suggestion that anything untoward occurred beyond the approach itself.” The 35-year-old added: “I have no involvement in any of the matches, or matters involving the other parties which were the subject of recent hearings and investigation in Bangladesh.”
A special tribunal in Bangladesh said on Wednesday that it expected to hand down punishments for Vincent and three other people implicated in the BPL scandal within two weeks.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White declined to speculate on what sanction he could face but said authorities took any infringement linked to corruption seriously.
“We’re concerned that a former New Zealand player has been linked to the ICC’s BPL investigation,” he told Radio Sport.“Of course, we’re a strong advocate of the ICC’s anti-corruption protocols and we treat this matter very seriously.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2014.
Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent confirmed Thursday that he failed to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match in Bangladesh, but said that was the extent of any wrongdoing.
Vincent said he had pleaded guilty to breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code by not reporting the approach while playing in the scandal-tainted Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) last year.
“I confirm I rejected this approach at the time,” said Vincent in a statement. “There is no allegation or suggestion that anything untoward occurred beyond the approach itself.” The 35-year-old added: “I have no involvement in any of the matches, or matters involving the other parties which were the subject of recent hearings and investigation in Bangladesh.”
A special tribunal in Bangladesh said on Wednesday that it expected to hand down punishments for Vincent and three other people implicated in the BPL scandal within two weeks.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White declined to speculate on what sanction he could face but said authorities took any infringement linked to corruption seriously.
“We’re concerned that a former New Zealand player has been linked to the ICC’s BPL investigation,” he told Radio Sport.“Of course, we’re a strong advocate of the ICC’s anti-corruption protocols and we treat this matter very seriously.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2014.