Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has pleaded guilty to not reporting an approach from illegal bookmakers while he was playing in Bangladesh.
Lou Vincent playing for the Auckland Aces in India in 2011. Photo: AFP
New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that 35-year-old Vincent, who played 23 tests and 109 one-day internationals, was investigated as part of an anti-corruption probe into match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2013, in which he played for the Khulna Royals.
Vincent, who retired from cricket last year, citing a lack of passion for the game, says he rejected the approach and there is no allegation or suggestion that anything else untoward happened.
He was one of three players to plead guilty; penalties against the trio will be announced in a couple of weeks.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White says they've had no contact with Vincent over the matter. They're yet to be briefed about what's happening, he says, because tribunal hearings are still going on, so cannot comment at this stage.
AFP reports that seven of the nine people named in the scandal have been charged with match-fixing offences and two with failing to comply with their obligation to report corruption.
Among them is Bangladesh international Mohammed Ashraful, who was allegedly paid $15,000 to lose a BPL game.
The International Cricket Council says it's surprised and disappointed by the tribunal's findings and is awaiting a detailed written determination of proceedings.
