Match-fixing in cricket and other sports still causes great worry since it compromises the integrity of fair play. Players, officials, or teams working together for financial benefit to affect the result of a game is what that means. Strong rules, more monitoring, and athlete education on the moral consequences of such behaviour will help to prevent match-fixing.

In India, I was dragged and sucked into fixing world: Lou Vincent recalls fall from grace

Former New Zealand batter Lou Vincent has opened up on how he was drawn to the world of match-fixing during his time at the now defunct Indian Cricket League in the late 2000s, saying being part of a gang at that time gave him a sense of belonging as he battled depression.

Vincent, who represented New Zealand in 23 Tests and 108 ODI, was handed 11 life bans by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2014 for match-fixing. Last year, the ban was revised allowing him to be involved in domestic cricket.

The 46-year-old had started his career with a Test hundred on debut against the mighty Australian side of 2000s. As he fought depression and got involved in match-fixing, his promising international career came to a premature end at the age of 29.

In an interview with the ‘The Telegraph’, Vincent narrated how his early upbringing impacted his personality and career.

Having grown up in a dysfunctional family, Vincent was always looking for emotional support around him and he ended up finding that in the murky world of corruption. He is currently involved in the anti-corruption education initiatives of New Zealand players’ body.

However, it did not take long for Vincent to realise the dangers of being part of the “gang”.

A decade after he was banned by the ECB, Vincent has healed and made peace with his pasrt.

(PTI)