Anti-corruption forces "are investigating the most detailed evidence yet of widespread fixing across the cricketing world," according to Nick Hoult of the London TELEGRAPH. Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent has provided officials from the Int'l Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit "with a treasure trove of information about matches which were targeted for spot-fixing and the names of players who were involved." Domestic matches played by English counties "are among those about which Vincent has provided detailed evidence" from the period when he was playing for Lancashire and Sussex, along with details of fixing in at least four other countries. Vincent "has also informed them of the details of an approach by another corrupt player to a current international captain, who turned down the offer and reported it to anti-corruption officials." Investigators from the ICC’s anti-corruption unit "are working with detectives employed by cricket boards around the world to piece together a complex case." Vincent "has agreed a plea bargain in the hope of avoiding a criminal prosecution for his involvement in and knowledge of spot-fixing in five or more countries over a four-year period" between '08-12 (TELEGRAPH, 5/14).
CA SPEAKS OUT: In Sydney, Chloe Saltau reported Cricket Australia's own anti-corruption detectives "have been assured that no Australian players, teams or matches are being investigated." But the scandal "has widespread implications for world cricket." CA "has a financial stake" of 30% in the Champions League. While CA "has no reason to believe any of its players are under scrutiny, its surveillance team remains on high alert after an explosion in betting on the Big Bash League last summer" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/15).
ECB RESPONDS: In London, Richard Hobson reported the England & Wales Cricket Board and Lancashire "refused to comment." The ICC said "it does not comment on ACSU investigations." The publicity "is a timely reminder of the threat posed by illegal bookmakers in the subcontinent on the eve of the revamped Twenty20 competition in England." The ECB "is not planning to alter a strategy for policing the threat of spot-fixing, believing that it worked successfully in 2013" (LONDON TIMES, 5/15).
NZC REACTION: In Auckland, Dylan Cleaver reported New Zealand Cricket "have confirmed that games involving the Auckland Aces at the 2012 Champions League in South Africa are being investigated by the ICC." NZC CEO David White said, "We can confirm the following: No games played in New Zealand are being investigated by the ICC. No current Black Caps are being investigated. No matches involving New Zealand national teams are being investigated, however we have been informed by the ICC that some Auckland Aces matches in the Champions League in SA in 2012 are being investigated" (NZ HERALD, 5/15).
