Int'l Cricket Council CEO Dave Richardson said that the organization will investigate how evidence given to a match-fixing probe "had been leaked to the media and take action against anyone employed by them if involved," according to Greg Stutchbury of REUTERS. The latest match-fixing scandal broke last December when New Zealand media reported that three former int'l cricketers "had been linked to an investigation" by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Security Unit into alleged match-fixing. Last week, British newspapers published excerpts of confidential statements from former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent, who had earlier said that "he was co-operating with the ACSU, and current captain Brendon McCullum." Richardson said the ICC "deeply regretted" the leaks and re-iterated that McCullum was not under investigation. Richardson said on Wednesday that "the investigation into the leaks had already been launched but said it was premature to suggest they had come from within the ICC" (REUTERS, 5/21). In Sydney, Chris Barrett wrote Australian test captain Michael Clarke said he is ‘‘extremely confident’’ that no Australian players have been tempted to engage in spot-fixing, imploring supporters of the game not to "tar all cricketers with the same brush" because of the actions of a few. Hours after the ICC instigated an inquiry into how the testimony of McCullum to a match-fixing investigation was splashed over the British press, Clarke said that "he supported the world governing body’s drive to stamp out corruption among players." Cricket Australia was told that "no Australian players, or matches or teams in which they were involved, are part of the investigation" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/21). Also in Sydney, Mark Geenty wrote McCullum "is scheduled to return to Christchurch from India on Thursday morning for the birth of his third child, and will front a press conference" after his written statement to ICC anti-corruption investigators was leaked. In it, McCullum reportedly alleged former teammate Chris Cairns "twice approached him to fix matches in 2008, which he rebuffed." Meanwhile, "the leaks continued as more details of Lou Vincent's involvement in fixing emerged." One News in New Zealand reported Vincent's ex-wife, Elly Riley, told investigators "how she and her then husband drove to a Birmingham laundrette" in '08 to collect $50,000 in cash. Riley said, ''I just sat in the car and put a hoodie over my head because I was so worried and scared. Lou went into a laundrette and came out with a black ruck bag and the cash was in that" (SMH, 5/21). The LONDON TIMES wrote Cairns has denied that he was the player who approached McCullum to fix matches six years ago and claimed that “dark forces” are at play in leaking information about the scandal. The 43-year-old, who played for New Zealand in 62 Tests and 215 one-day internationals, said, “Based on the limited information I have received during this investigation, I believe it is being alleged that I am that player. These allegations against me are a complete lie." Cairns won a defamation case against IPL Founder Lalit Modi "for making similar accusations on Twitter four years ago" (LONDON TIMES, 5/21).
