The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revoked the lifetime ban of New Zealand cricketer, Lou Vincent. Notably, Vincent, who has played 134 matches for New Zealand, can now play domestic cricket or any cricket below this level.
Lou Vincent had admitted to several breaches of the ECB anti-corruption code for matches played between 2018 and 2011 in County Cricket. He was slapped with a lifetime ban across all forms of the game in 2014.
Even though, the Kiwi cricketer can play domestic cricket, his ban on international cricket stands as it was. When Lou Vincent was a part of Sussex in 2008 and in the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, he had committed 11 offences that resulted into life-time bans.
Gerard Elias, who is a part of the CDC, highlighted the reasons as to why Lou Vincent’s lifetime ban was uplifted.
“In particular, this decision was taken in the light of Mr Vincent’s conduct following his sanction. Namely: full and frank admissions and the fullest disclosures; immediate and total co-operation with cricket and civil authorities in various parts of the world; and, participation in anti-corruption education programmes for NZC and the ECB. I am satisfied that these factors justify an amelioration of the original sanction at this time,” said Gerard Elias, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
The 45-year-old cricketer admitted to have made a mistake long time back and said he is ‘fortunate’ to come back into cricket.
“I made a terrible mistake many years ago, which I’ll deeply regret for the rest of my life, and I remain very sorry for the harm I caused. Being able to return to the cricket environment means the world to me and I feel very fortunate to again have that opportunity,” said Lou Vincent in a statement to New Zealand Cricket.
Lou Vincent was a fabulous batter of New Zealand
Having played 102 ODIs, 23 Tests and 9 T20Is for New Zealand, Lou Vincent was a flamboyant top-order batter. He had a superb start to his Test career as he slammed a ton and a half-century in his debut Test against Australia in Perth.
Lou Vincent’s highest ODI score of 172 runs against Zimbabwe was one of his most notable innings as it exuded class and flamboyance. Despite his off-field controversies, he will go down as a good player of New Zealand, who commanded a lot of respect till his match-fixing saga in 2014.
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