KEY POINTS:
Lou Vincent says financial security gained from playing in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) was the driving force behind his quick exit from New Zealand.
Vincent, 29, dropped his bombshell on New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan on Wednesday when he said he had signed with the ICL Twenty20 tournament and was to fly out to India by this weekend.
" It was only last week we had it (the ICL offer) on the table, and I had no time to react," Vincent told Radio Sport today.
"The only way I could have made money this year, because I would have been unemployed in May, was to sign the contract and head myself to India."
He didn't want the thought of having to mortgage his house haunting him everytime he went out to bat in the future.
Vaughan said yesterday the 23-test veteran, who is waging a well-publicised battle with depression, would forever have "a black mark next to his name" after negotiating a contract without NZC's knowledge.
"It (Vincent's deal) was done without seeking a release, he made no effort to go through the proper channels," said Vaughan, who was particularly aggrieved considering the assistance Vincent had received after being diagnosed with depression.
However NZC had decided against seeking legal redress and had opted to cancel Vincent's contract.
NZC made no attempt to block Vincent's move, with Vaughan saying it was impractical, short of withholding his passport.
The second edition of the ICL, which lasts for six weeks, sees a larger New Zealand presence with Vincent, fellow Auckland teammate Andre Adams, Canterbury's Shane Bond and former international wicketkeeper Adam Parore joining Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Daryl Tuffey and Hamish Marshall who played in the inaugural tournament last year.
- NZPA
