Brendan Taylor: Former Zimbabwe batsman says he faces ICC ban for not reporting spot-fixing approach
Taylor, who has retired from international cricket, said in a statement on Twitter: "I would like to place on record that I have never been involved in any form of match-fixing. I may be many things, but I am not a cheat"
Monday 24 January 2022 13:49, UK
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor says he is facing a ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after admitting he received a $15,000 "deposit" for spot-fixing, though he says he was blackmailed and never went through with the arrangement.
The 35-year-old claims he was coerced into accepting the money from an Indian businessman in October 2019 and that it took him four months to report the incident to the ICC anti-corruption unit, because he feared for his safety.
Taylor travelled to India to discuss the launch of a new T20 competition in Zimbabwe with the promise of $15,000 as payment, with another $20,000 when the "spot-fixing" job was complete.
"We had drinks and during the course of the evening, they openly offered me cocaine, which they themselves engaged in. I foolishly took the bait," Taylor said in a statement released via Twitter on Monday.
"The following morning, the same men stormed into my hotel room and showed me a video taken of me the night before doing cocaine and told me that if I did not spot-fix at international matches for them, the video would be released to the public."
Taylor added: "I would like to place on record that I have never been involved in any form of match-fixing. I may be many things, but I am not a cheat. That being said, the ICC are taking the decision to impose a multi-year ban on my international cricketing career. I humbly accept this decision."
The 35-year-old Taylor, who played for Zimbabwe in 34 Tests, 205 one-day internationals and 45 T20s, retired from international cricket in September.
Former Zimbabwe all-rounder and coach Heath Streak was previously banned by the ICC for eight years last April for his role in revealing inside information that could be used for betting purposes.
