New Zealand: Former players at centre of fixing inquiry

Three former New Zealand cricketers are being investigated over allegations of fixing in "historic matches".

New Zealand Cricket confirmed the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit has been investigating the ex-players in recent months.

Former Test batsman Lou Vincent said he was one of the trio investigated.

"I am co-operating with an ongoing ICC anti-corruption investigation," said Vincent, 37, who played the last of his 23 Test matches in 2007.

A statement from NZC said: "New Zealand Cricket is aware the International Cricket Council is investigating a small number of former New Zealand cricketers.

"As this is an ICC investigation, unfortunately NZC is not able to comment further."

New Zealand Cricket later confirmed that three New Zealanders were under investigation, saying it knew their names but could not identify the players while the judicial process was taking place.

Chief executive David White said none of the matches under investigation involved the New Zealand team or took place in New Zealand.

The statement followed an earlier report in the New Zealand Herald that the ICC had been in the country investigating both spot- and match- fixing by former players.

The Herald described the developments as "the biggest sports scandal in New Zealand's history" and later named all three players, none of whom are still playing at international level.

The New Zealand government last week announced an initiative to encourage greater information-sharing and co-ordination amongst government agencies and sporting organisations in an effort to combat corruption in sport.

It also plans to introduce anti-match-fixing legislation next year.