ICC probes Aces match in South Africa

Auckland Aces batter Lou Vincent. Photo / NZPA

Auckland provincial cricket team in 2012 tournament in corruption investigation

At least one match involving the Auckland Aces provincial cricket team at the 2012 Champions League in South Africa is under the ICC's anti-corruption spotlight.

On the day that it was announced the International Cricket Council was investigating allegations of match-fixing affecting three former internationals, New Zealand Cricket said none of the matches involved matches under their jurisdiction. While that remains true, the Weekend Herald can reveal a team from this country was involved.

The probe is looking at matches across three countries - India, South Africa and England. It is believed the match or matches in South Africa relate to the 2012 Champions League Twenty20. New Zealand was represented at that tournament by the Auckland Aces, for whom Lou Vincent opened the batting.

Last week Vincent confirmed he was "co-operating with an ongoing ICC anti-corruption investigation" and could not comment further. Former Auckland Ace Daryl Tuffey, who has subsequently said he will co-operate with the ICC, was not at the CLT20.

No charges have been laid and nothing has been proven against any of the players named.

When asked to confirm if the Aces were involved, NZC chief executive David White said: "All we can tell you is it does not involve the New Zealand national team."

Auckland Cricket chief executive Mark Cameron said he was not aware of the details of the ICC anti-corruption investigation.

"Until such time as the investigation has run its course, it would be inappropriate for me to comment," he said.

The ICC last week confirmed the investigation, which involves head of the Australasian branch of the anti-corruption unit John Rhodes, but said it would not comment further until it was completed.

Auckland won both their qualifying matches comfortably, but were ousted in the group stages, losing two, winning one match and having a no result.

The CLT20 is one of the most lucrative cricket tournaments in the world. The 2012 edition was played for a total prize pool of US$6 million ($7.3 million), with the winners taking $2.5 million, the runners-up $1.3 million and losing semifinalists $500,000.

Teams eliminated in the group stage, as Auckland were, earned $200,000. Auckland receive two-sevenths of that money, with the five other New Zealand major associations earning one-seventh each.

The ICC probe is also investigating Chris Cairns. Cairns has categorically denied any involvement in match or spot fixing and says "I am not a cheat". He has never played for the Auckland Aces.