Vincent admits approach by bookmaker

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has pleaded guilty to not reporting an approach from illegal bookmakers.

Vincent was one of nine people probed as part of an anti-corruption investigation into match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

"I can confirm that I admitted a breach in January 2014 of the ICC code in failing to report an approach from a bookmaker whilst playing in the Bangladesh T20 league in January 2013," Vincent said in a statement.

"I confirm I rejected the approach at the time. There is no allegation or suggestion anything untoward occurred beyond the approach itself.

"I also express I have no involvement in any of the matches, or matters, involving the other parties, which were the subject of recent hearings and investigation in Bangladesh."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White told the Herald his organisation was "concerned the name of a former New Zealand player is linked with the Bangladesh Premier League investigation".

White said the judicial process and legalities of the situation made it impossible to comment further.

"But we are strong advocates of the ICC's anti-corruption processes."

The Bangladesh Cricket Board set up a three-person Anti-Corruption Tribunal to look into the claims of match-fixing in the 2013 tournament.

One of the owners of the Dhaka Gladiators has been convicted by the tribunal of "being a party to an effort to fix"a match against Chittagong.

Vincent, Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi and former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful all admitted guilt to the charges they each faced.

"Vincent, Lokuarachchi and Ashraful have already pleaded guilty," Shakil Kasem, a member of the tribunal told AFP. "We're going to review their guilty pleas, deliberate on that and come up with sanctions within two weeks."

Nine people were named in the scandal, including seven who have been charged with match-fixing offences, and two others charged with failing to comply with their obligation to report corruption.

Six people were cleared of all charges.

A statement released by both the International Cricket Council and the Bangladesh Cricket Board said they were "surprised and obviously disappointed with the outcome".

Vincent is also subject to more ICC investigations into match-fixing, as revealed by the Herald last year. He was named, along with Chris Cairns and Daryl Tuffey, as being the subjects of an ICC probe.

Cairns has denied any wrongdoing.

"I am continuing to co-operate with the ICC in respect of other inquiries they are making," Vincent said, "which also restricts my ability to comment further."