0 Vincent charged with match-fixing

Another day; another twist in cricket's match-fixing drama. Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent has been formally charged with match-fixing by the England Cricket Board; Cricinfo reports:

The ECB has charged former Sussex players Lou Vincent and Naved Arif with alledged match-fixing in county cricket.

Vincent is charged with 14 offences relating to two matches; a Twenty20 match between Sussex and Lancashire and a 40 over game between Sussex and Kent at Hove. Arif is charged with six offences in relation to the 40-over game between Sussex and Kent in August 2011.

Sussex lost the CB40 game in question by 15 runs, with Arif conceding 41 runs in six overs without a wicket, and Vincent being run out for 1 off seven balls. The T20 match was a quarter-final, which Lancashire won by 20 runs. Vincent was caught behind first ball off Sajid Mahmood in the Sussex chase.

The result cost them a semi-final spot. In November 2012, Sussex had confirmed that the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) had investigated the match.

Both players have been provisionally suspended from all cricketing activities organised, authorised or supported by the ECB, ICC, any other national cricket federation and any member of any other national cricket federation.

Chris Watts, head of ECB's Anti-Corruption unit, said: "This has been an extremely complex and lengthy investigation co-ordinated across many jurisdictions around the world. This matter is now the subject of formal legal proceedings and we will therefore make no further comment other than to reiterate our determination to bring to account the very small minority who seek to corrupt cricket."

ECB chief executive David Collier added: "The ECB's ACCESS unit has worked tirelessly in conjunction with the ICC's ACSU to bring about these charges, which once again demonstrates the ECB's zero-tolerance approach to corruption in our great game." 

The story goes on to detail what triggered the investigation:

The Daily Telegraph, which initially reported the story, said the Sussex-Kent match attracted bets totalling more than £12million on one legal gambling website alone, the highest total for any match of its kind in the past three years, which drew suspicions at the time but was cleared by the ICC's anti-corruption unit only for the case to be later reopened by the ECB.  

It is interesting that this match was initially cleared by the ICC's anti-corruption unit, but that the ECB's ACCESS unit has found sufficient evidence to bring charges against Vincent and Naved Asif. It makes us wonder somewhat at the competence of the ACSU.

If these allegations against Vincent are proven, he will likely as not face a life ban from any involvement in cricket. Even if his testimony brings down some of those further up the match-fixing chain, it is a sad end to what could have been a very good career. 

There is no place in cricket for those who succumb to the temptation of big bucks and corrupt the great sport.

0 The ICC backs McCullum

New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum has received something of an endorsement from the ICC; the Herald reports:

The ICC has publicly commended New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for his conduct in the match-fixing scandal enveloping the game.
The International Cricket Council's chief executive David Richardson spoke publicly to ward off any "misperception that he is somehow under suspicion".
McCullum's testimony to the ICC's anti-corruption investigation was leaked to the public this week, along with that of Lou Vincent. While Vincent's role in match-fixing is now becoming clear, Richardson said McCullum had done everything right.
He said the fact confidential information found its way into the public domain was worrying and the ICC was investigating how this happened as a matter of urgency.

"Of course, we recognise that this is a deeply concerning development for the stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the sport of cricket, and we wish to emphasise that Brendon McCullum is not under investigation in this matter," Richardson said.
"Whilst we have privately offered our full support to Brendon, we do so now publicly not only to confirm that, by assisting with the ACSU's enquiries, he has acted quite properly in accordance with his responsibilities as a professional cricketer... He is to be commended for his actions and we deeply regret that aspects of his statement are now in the public domain."

This does not bode well for Chris Cairns. He has said that Brendon McCullum and Lou Vincent are lying when they accuse him of being the mysterious Player X, but the evidence that McCullum, Vincent, Vincent's ex-wife and others have given to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is detailed and explicit.

Chris Cairns is, as we have said any number of times, entitled to the presumption of innocence. The onus will be on the ICC and any prosecutorial services to prove the allegations against Cairns beyond reasonable doubt. But it must be said that the evidence at this point is stacking up against Cairns. Clearly, both Cairns and McCullum cannot be telling the truth when their stories are at opposite ends of the scale. 

There is a separate issue for Chris Cairns. If it is later found that the evidence he gave in his libel case against ICL boss Lalit Modi in London was false, he will be at risk of being prosecuted for perjury, and the damages awarded to him may have to be repaid. The arrest in March of his former lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland in London on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in relation to the libel case suggests that the match-fixing investigation may be just one of the hurdles Cairns faces in the next few months and years.

These are terribly sad times for those of us who love cricket.

0 The match-fixing scandal

Match-fixing and spot-fixing are a blight on sport, and especially on cricket. And former New Zealand player Lou Vincent has blown the whistle on what sounds like a reasonably significant dose of corruption in cricket; the Herald reports:

Investigations into cricket match-fixing allegations have taken a twist, with the revelation New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum rebuffed an approach to manipulate a game.
No details on dates or games have been confirmed, but multiple sources have corroborated the approach.
The Herald understands International Cricket Council anti-corruption officers interviewed and he confirmed being approached.
During a hastily arranged press conference at NZ Cricket headquarters in Auckland yesterday, an attempt was made to pin chief executive David White down on a possible McCullum connection.
"Sorry, I cannot say any more as it could jeopardise further investigations," White said.
The press conference was called to respond to a story in London's Daily Telegraph that suggested former Black Cap Lou Vincent was seeking a plea bargain for full disclosure of his involvement in spot- and match-fixing.

McCullum is playing in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings. It is understood he immediately and emphatically rejected the approach. Approached by the Herald last night, he had no comment.
White did confirm that matches involving the Auckland Aces in South Africa at the 2012 Champions League - an international Twenty20 competition - were under anti-corruption investigation, a story broken in the Herald in December.
"No games played in New Zealand are being investigated by the ICC," White said. "No current Black Caps are being investigated. No matches involving New Zealand national
"However, we have been informed by the ICC that some Auckland Aces matches in the Champions League in South Africa in 2012 are being investigated.

Regular readers will be aware that of all the sports we follow, cricket is our first love. The manner in which the whole sport has been brought into disrepute by dodgy, shady characters seeking to make a profit is heart-breaking.

Lou Vincent deserves some credit for coming forward and being completely open about his involvement, and that of players around him. The bookies target vulnerable players, and Vincent, with his history of depression certainly fits that profile. That does not in any way excuse his participation in anything illegal, if that is what he has admitted. But by breaking ranks and fronting up, he may help to identify some of those who are pulling the strings of players around the globe.

Cricket used to be the gentleman's game. These days, there is a dark cloud over the sport due to the illegal activities of those prepared to hang the game out to dry for the sake of a quick buck. On one hand we condemn Lou Vincent for succumbing to temptation, but on the other we commend him for being honest about his involvement, and for trying to put things right.

0 A very welcome move

Match-fixing is a blight on sport, and especially on cricket, the gentlemen's game. So we are delighted to see the Government about to take some meaningful action; the Herald reports:

Match-fixing will become a crime in New Zealand.
Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully announced yesterday that an amendment would be made to the Crimes Act to ensure serious forms of match-fixing would be subject to criminal sanctions.
"New Zealand is not immune to the international risks of match-fixing and we are taking pre-emptive steps to protect our well-deserved reputation for playing fair and the integrity of New Zealand sport," Mr McCully said.
"We have released the New Zealand Policy on Sports Match-Fixing and Related Corruption and announced plans to amend the Crimes Act 1961 to ensure the most serious form of match-fixing is a criminal offence.
"The national match-fixing policy provides a comprehensive framework for collaboration across Government, the sport sector and the betting industry to address match-fixing risks to New Zealand sport," he said.
"An important component of the policy is ensuring we have a strong legal framework around match-fixing, and ensuring it is subject to criminal sanctions."

With the ICC World Cup due to be held in New Zealand early in 2015, this is a significant move by Murray McCully. It sends a message to the international community that match-fixing will not be tolerated in New Zealand, and that there will be criminal sanctions as well as those dished out by the sport in question.

Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle is a fan. He has sent out this tweet to his 1.2 million followers:

Sadly, much of the illegal activity in cricket has its origins in the India subcontinent.But sportsmen from throughout the world have fallen into the clutches of the bookies and their dodgy mates. Even right now, former New Zealand representatives Lew Vincent, Daryl Tuffey and Chris Cairns are being investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption unit over allegations of involvement in match-fixing.

Cricket is our first and most enduring sporting love, and watching the game descend into corruption is deeply saddening. We commend the Government for this initiative, which is a very welcome move.