Vincent awaits life-ban confirmation

Lou Vincent.

England and Wales Cricket Board is about to announce heavy penalty for former NZ player over match-fixing.

Lou Vincent's cricketing fate is expected to be sealed within days, and the former international is likely to receive a life ban from the sport.

The 35-year-old is holed up at his Kaukapakapa home waiting on confirmation from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

It is expected the ECB will announce the ban this week, but there is a small chance it could be delayed until early next week.

The Herald contacted Vincent's lawyer, Chris Morris, who was unable to comment.

It is believed Vincent will be the first New Zealand professional sportsman or woman to receive a life ban.

Vincent has admitted his role in match-fixing to officers from the ECB and the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit.

The ICC has refused to pull the trigger while Britain's Metropolitan Police carry out their own investigation into match-fixing - with Vincent's testimony at the heart of it - but the ECB has felt no such restraint.

Vincent, who played 23 tests and 102 one-day internationals for New Zealand, has admitting to cheating in several countries and multiple competitions, including the defunct Indian Cricket League, T20 Champions League and county cricket's limited overs competitions.

It is the last that has enraged the ECB. Vincent arranged to fix matches and underperform while a player for Lancashire and Sussex.

Last month, the ECB banned Vincent's former Sussex teammate Naved Arif for life after the allrounder pleaded guilty to six charges of match-fixing. Vincent is facing 14 charges.

Vincent has previously been banned for three years by Bangladesh Cricket after failing to report an approach from bookmakers during the 2012 Bangladesh Premier League. The right-hander was playing for the Dhaka Gladiators.

That was the first time a New Zealand cricketer had been banned for involvement in match-fixing.

Vincent's testimony, which has supplied investigators with detailed information on the inner workings of match-fixing and fixers, has implicated fellow former internationals Chris Cairns and Daryl Tuffey.

He has testified that he was first approached at the ICL by an Indian bookmaker known as VG who offered him $15,000 and a woman as a "present".

As Vincent got deeper into the world of fixing and began working for more than one bookie, his fixing became more elaborate.

He would use signals such as the colour of his bat handle or pulling away while the bowler was running in to indicate that the fix was on.

Cairns has confirmed he has had interviews with the Metropolitan Police and anti-corruption officers. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

It is understood police from the Met spoke to Tuffey as recently as last week. Tuffey, too, has denied all involvement in match-fixing.

nzherald.co.nz
Read about Vincent's earlier health battle at tinyurl.com/vincenthealth.