13 Mar 2012

New Zealand players likely to have been approached by bookies?

10:01 am on 13 March 2012

The former Black Caps bowler Iain O'Brien says he's seen evidence of match fixing in all forms of cricket around the world, and it would be naive to think New Zealand players hadn't been approached by bookmakers.

Indian bookmaker Vicky Seth, told an undercover reporter from British newspaper the Sunday Times, that he had connections with New Zealanders and named two players he 'worked' with in 2010.

The newspaper chose not to name the players.

O'Brien says he doesn't know of any New Zealand players being approached by bookmakers but says with the amount of match-fixing going on it would be foolish to think it hasn't happened.

He says he's never been approached by bookmakers.

The 22-test paceman also says it's unlikely New Zealand's domestic cricketers are involved in match-fixing because only a small number of games are broadcast on television.

O'Brien says he's witnessed match-fixing in English county cricket and Australia's Big Bash Twenty/20 league.

However he's fairly confident it's not happening in New Zealand's domestic competitions.