ICC to investigate McCullum leak

Cricket365
May 21, 2014

Chief executive David Richardson has confirmed the International Cricket Council will conduct an investigation into how the confidential testimony of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum became public knowledge.

Earlier this week, <i>The Daily Mail</i> published parts of McCullum's statements to the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, which reportedly revealed an illegal approach by a former player in 2008.

"We recognise that this is a deeply concerning development for the stakeholders in the fight against corruption and we wish to emphasise that Brendon is not under investigation in this matter," said Richardson.

"While we have privately offered our full support to Brendon, we do so now publicly not only to confirm that, by assisting with the ACSU's inquiries, he has acted quite properly in accordance with his responsibilities as a professional cricketer, but also correct any misconception that he is somehow under suspicion.

"Obviously the ICC considers any leak of any kind of information to be an extremely serious matter, particularly when the nature of the information that has found its way to the media is highly confidential and has been provided in tightly controlled circumstances by individuals to the ACSU.

"We are taking all steps available to us to urgently investigate how certain information in the form of statements has come to find its way into the media, so that we can provide reassurances to the stakeholders within the sport so that they can continue to place their trust in the hands of the ACSU and the anti-corruption units of the respective member boards."

Erstwhile Black Caps batsman Lou Vincent, meanwhile, has revealed involvement in an ICC anti-corruption investigation in February last year.

Vincent said he had been approached by an illegal bookmaker during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League – and has allegedly reported attempted fixing during England's domestic limited-overs competitions.