Lou Vincent given life-long ban from all forms of cricket

Lou Vincent has accepted his ban for match-fixing

The England and Wales Cricket Board imposed the ban on Tuesday, hours after Vincent had issued a statement in his native New Zealand acknowledging his guilt and expressing regret.

The former Kiwi batsman, who played for Sussex and Lancashire, pleaded guilty to 18 breaches of the regulations - four related to a Twenty20 match between Lancashire and Durham in June 2008.

The remaining 14 charges against Vincent relate to two matches played at Hove in August 2011, a Twenty20 against Lancashire and CB40 against Kent.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: “We are extremely pleased the matter has now been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and an individual who repeatedly sought to involve others in corrupt activity for his own personal gain has accepted his conduct warrants a lifetime ban from cricket.

“It once again highlights our resolve to keep cricket clean and rid the game of the tiny minority who seek to undermine its integrity.”

In his statement, Vincent admitted his involvement in match-fixing when at both Lancashire and Sussex and confessed to other offences in the Indian Cricket League and Twenty20 Champions League.

He said: “My name is Lou Vincent, and I am a cheat. “I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money in fixing.

“I have lived with this dark secret for so many years, but months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth.

“It’s a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world. I have shamed my country, I have shamed my sport, I have shamed those close to me. For that, I am not proud.”

“I lost faith in myself, in the game, I abused the game I loved. I had to put things right.”