0 Lou Vincent admits he's a cheat

Lou Vincent has put out a statement this afternoon. He is expected to receive a life ban from any involvement in cricket from the England Cricket Board tonight (NZ time).

Here's the complete text of Vincent's statement:

My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat.
I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money through fixing.
I have lived with this dark secret for many years, but just months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth.
It's a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world.
I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me. For that I am not proud.
I lost faith in myself and the game. I abused the game I love. I had to put things right.
Speaking out. Exposing the truth. Laying bare the things I have done wrong is the only way I can find to begin to put things right.
The time has come for me to now face them like a man and accept the consequences, whatever they may be.
I could not live with my wrongdoing any longer, and after meeting my future wife Susie, after learning what unconditional love really is, I felt strong enough to tell her what I'd done, and she has helped me take the painful steps to telling my parents, my wider family, and then the authorities.
I am proud of those I love. Especially my immediate family and friends. Their strength, support and forgiveness has enabled me to address some deep and uncomfortable issues in my life.
I can finally look my children in eyes and tell them that honesty is the best policy, even if it feels like the hardest thing to do at times.
I now believe in myself as a person again and do not wake up every morning hating myself.
Today is the day I offer my deepest apologies to the public and the cricketing world, to the loyal fans, to the dedicated coaches, staff and all players past and present.
I apologise to the and thank the ACSU [Anti-Corruption and Security Unit] for their help and support, which is out there for all players and it has helped me a great deal. Chris Morris and his legal team, and all associations that have handled this sensitive situation with professionalism and respect.
The people who know me know I am vulnerable. But they also know I am not stupid and that I know what is right and what is wrong.
I do suffer from depression but it is absolutely no reason or excuse for all that I have done wrong.
I used to think mistakes were the actions of bad people. I now know even good people can make the worst of mistakes. My actions, I will regret for the rest of my life.
For sport to prosper, it is up to the players to police the game, because they are the ones that will ultimately lose out if they allow themselves to be used as pawns to make money.
No one should ever be put in that position. And no one should ever allow themselves to forget what sport is about and let money rule their decisions.
The decisions I made were wrong. Players must be better than that. Above reproach. For the fans. For the sport.
For the first time in a very long time I feel positive about the future because I am finally becoming the man I wanted to be. I have to face up to my wrongs to make them right.
I have kept my head down for too long now. This is my time to man up to my mistakes and today I can stand with a better conscience because I know I'm doing the right thing.
It is entirely my fault that I will never be able to stand in front of a game again. It is entirely my fault that I will not be able to apply my skills in a positive way to help future cricketers.
But it is entirely possible that I can use this moment to convince others not to be tempted by wrongdoing. To do the right thing for themselves, for their families and friends, and for the sport they love.
I accept my punishment and I thank you for [reading] my statement.

Kudos to Lou Vincent for finally making a complete admission of his serial wrong-doing. He has brought cricket into disrepute, and as well as the shame he has visited on himself, he has caused many of his team-mates to be viewed with suspicion.

That's what something as insidious as match-fixing or spot-fixing does. It causes those of us who love the game to question ever result, every dismissal, and pretty much everything that happens on the field of play.

We wish Lou Vincent well for a life which will now, because of his life ban, have no contact with cricket. He has burned his bridges to the cricket community, and the life ban was the only punishment to fit the crime. We hope he manages to rebuild his life, and use the torment he has suffered in recent months in a constructive way. He will be only too aware however that he has let down a lot of people he would once have considered friends.

As we have said before, match-fixing is a cancer on the sport we love ahead of all other sports. Here's hoping that Lou Vincent's fate will be a lesson to those tempted by easy money that cheating simply isn't worth it.

0 Lou Vincent banned by Bangladesh

Former New Zealand international cricketer Lou Vincent has received his first suspension for match-fixing; Cricinfo reports:

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has been banned for eight years (three years suspended) by the BPL anti-corruption tribunal for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League.

Dhaka Gladiators' managing director Shihab Chowdhury has been banned for ten years (three years suspended) for fixing, former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent is out for three years, and Sri Lanka batsman Kaushal Lokuarachchi gets an 18-month ban for failing to report an approach. In February, Vincent had admitted to not reporting a bookie's approach. 

As the story notes, Vincent was one of four people charged. Here's more about his specific offences:

Chowdhury has been charged on article 6.2 and 6.5, which means he cannot participate in any cricketing activities. He also has been fined Tk 20 lakh, to be paid to the BCB. He has been found guilty of being party to fixing the Chittagong match held on February 2, 2013. This decision was first announced on February 26 this year, when the tribunal released the short verdict.

Vincent too was charged under the same articles as Chowdhury, while Lokuarachchi was charged under article 2.4.2. "The tribunal imposes ineligibility for 18 months on Kaushal Lokuarachchi," Khademul said. "There was one charge against him, and that is his failure to report a corrupted approach. Someone had asked him if he wants to fix match, and he didn't report it. He has been found guilty under article 2.4.2 of the BCB's code.

"Lou Vincent, the New Zealand cricketer, has been punished with a three-year ban. He has been found guilty under article 6.2 and 6.5," 

This suspension of course is a mere prelude to the main events to follow. Lou Vincent has also been charged by the England Cricket Board for match-fixing in English county matches, and Cricket Australia is planning charges against him. The ICC is still investigating other allegations.

It is highly likely that Lou Vincent will ultimately be banned for life for match-fixing. The only redeeming feature for him is that he has been open with cricket authorities about his participation, although Chris Cairns may not necessarily see that as a redeeming feature!

But if a life ban ensues, Vincent will have no one to blame but himself. There is no place in cricket for corruption and cheating.