Disgraced former New Zealand international cricketer Lou Vincent, speaking publicly for the first time about his match-fixing, has announced his life-time ban from the sport.
In a video statement released on Tuesday, Vincent said he had lived with his “dark secret” for many years, and had only recently decided to come forward and tell the truth.
“I am a cheat. I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money through fixing,” he said.
“I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me.
“I lost faith in myself and the game. I abused the game I love.”
The punishment, which was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, stems from one-day matches that Vincent admitted he helped rig in English county cricket.
His former Sussex team mate, Naveed Arif, was also banned for life last month after admitting similar corruption offences.
The ECB said in a statement that Vincent pleaded guilty to 18 breaches of its anti-corruption regulations.
Four charges related to a Twenty20 match between his team Lancashire and Durham in June 2008. The remaining 14 concerned two fixtures played in August 2011 – a Sussex v Lancashire Twenty20 and a Sussex v Kent one-day match.
“We are extremely pleased that the matter has now been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and that an individual who repeatedly sought to involve others in corrupt activity for his own personal gain has accepted that his conduct warrants a lifetime ban from cricket,” said ECB chief David Collier.
In June he was banned for three years in Bangladesh for failing to report approaches to fix matches.
Vincent played 23 Tests, 102 one-day internationals and nine Twenty20 internationals from 2001-07.
In a five-minute statement, Vincent said he accepted responsibility for what he had done.
“Laying bare the things I have done wrong is the only way I can find to begin to put things right,” he said.
“It is entirely my fault that I will never be able to stand in front of a game again. It is entirely my fault that I will not be able to apply my skills in a positive way to help future cricketers,” he said.
Vincent, whose struggles with depression have been well-documented, said he wasn’t using that as an excuse.
“I do suffer from depression, but it is absolutely no reason or excuse for all I have done wrong.
“The people who know me know I am vulnerable. But they also know I am not stupid and that I know what is right and what is wrong.”
He said he would regret his actions for the rest of his life.
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