Lou Vincent Reveals Shocking Tale of His Involvement in Cricket Fixing

The world of cricket isn’t new to gambling and fixing, and Lou Vincent, a former New Zealand cricketer, recently opened up about his troubled involvement in match-fixing. Vincent, who struggled with depression during his cricket career, revealed how he was drawn into the dark world of fixing while playing in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in the late 2000s.

He explained how being part of a “gang” made him feel a sense of belonging, despite the corrupt nature of the activities. Vincent admitted that getting involved with match-fixers was easy, and leaving was extremely difficult due to constant threats and manipulation. In his confession, he said:

I didn’t have the mental package to be a professional sports player. So at 28, I was deeply in depression and then went to India, and was dragged, sucked into that fixing world. It was pretty easy to see how it happened. I felt like I was part of a gang. It almost made me feel better, because I was thinking: “I am part of a match-fixing gang, I am with a group that’s going to have my back and nobody knows our little secret”. I think that’s how most bike gangs work with young kids. Yeah, they sort of groom young kids into “we’ll look after you but go drive that car through the shop and smash it up”.

His confession led to a life ban from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2014, later modified to allow domestic cricket participation. Vincent shared that admitting his wrongs helped him heal, and he now contributes to anti-corruption educational programs. Despite the turmoil, his story highlights the mental struggles and vulnerabilities that can lead players astray.