Former Lancashire player Lou Vincent would face a life ban if found guilty of match fixing allegations if Ashes-winning former England captain Michael Vaughan had his way.
Vincent, who played for Lancashire in 2008, stands accused of 14 offences across two matches in 2011 while his former Sussex teammate, Naved Arif, is charged with six by the ECB.
If the pair are found guilty it will be the first time proof has been found a county game being fixed and Vaughan does not want them to play the sport ever again if done so.
“Anyone found match-fixing, spot-fixing should be banned for life. Don’t allow them anywhere near a cricket field again,” he told the BBC.
“Where this incident has hit us hard is that it is our game, or county game, our domestic game. That is a real concern.
“I worry there is more to come out. I worry there is more out there.”
The charges Vincent faces relate to two games while he was with Sussex, a Twenty20 match against Lancashire and a 40-over contest verse Kent, while Arif’s are connected only to the latter.
County cricket matches are streamed live to the subcontinent where illegally gambling takes places resulting in huge sums of money being placed as bets.
Vincent has issued a statement through his lawyer which confirmed he had cooperated with the authorities.
“He will work through these and the process for dealing with the charges as required by the E.C.B,” the statement said.
“He further confirms the charges arise from the matters he has disclosed to the authorities, and he remains accountable for his actions of the past.
“The fact of the charges, and more are likely, dispel any notions of a plea bargain having been done as unfortunately appears to be wrongly suggested by others.”
Main image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
