Life bans only way to halt corruption, says Vettori

Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori says the Pakistani trio caught up in the sport's latest corruption scandal should be banned for life if the allegations are proven, and that Kiwi cricket fans "have every right" to question New Zealand's recent wins over Pakistan.

Vettori gave his first public comment on the controversy yesterday, telling the Sunday Star-Times that he hoped desperately "that it's not true" and that he personally believes the Blacks Caps' epic 32-run test victory over Pakistan in Dunedin last summer was legitimate.

"It will be pretty sad for cricket if all the allegations are proven because the last thing anyone wants is for supporters to start thinking there's no point in watching because the results are already decided," Vettori said.

"The greatest result would obviously be that it was all untrue. But if not, if a clean-up can come from it, then hopefully it will make cricket as squeaky clean as it possibly can be."

The cricket world has been reeling after a British newspaper alleged that Pakistan's Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt conspired with bookmakers to deliver deliberate no-balls in last week's fourth test against England.

Such is the shock in cricket circles, some – including former New Zealand captain John Reid – have called for Pakistan to be suspended from international competition.

But Vettori said any punishments should be meted out only to individuals found guilty.

"It has to be taken on an individual case-by-case basis," he said.

"The last thing we want to do is punish people who are innocent. There has to be the biggest deterrent possible given to match-fixing because if it's just a six-month or one-year ban then it doesn't mean anything.

"I suppose the money that you can make out of it will allow you to sit out of games for a while.

"My personal view is that if you're caught, you have to be banned for life. That's the only way that you are going to stamp it out and if these allegations are proven to be true then there has to be a precedent set."

While the accusations against the Pakistani trio at this stage extend to deliberately conspiring to bowl no-balls rather than affect the outcome of the test, Vettori was unmoved.

He said corruption in cricket – even if it was bowling pre-meditated no-balls – was a slippery slope. "We're talking about the game's integrity and if you're willing to subvert part of it, then is there any reason why you wouldn't go a step further?

"The whole premise of cricket is based on the spirit of the game, and if you move away from that then the game's not played in the spirit it's supposed to. Any way that you can deter people from moving away from the spirit of the game has to be done."

The ICC is looking into 82 matches involving Pakistan in the last 2 1/2 years as they investigate alleged irregularities. Eleven of those games involve New Zealand – four one-dayers, four T20s and three tests.

Late last year, Pakistan toured New Zealand for three tests, with both sides winning one and drawing the other. "I think we were pretty comfortable with that series here," Vettori said.

"But I can certainly understand why people will start to speculate about those matches in light of the recent information.

"People now have every right to question results and question what went on.

"But I certainly look back on the Dunedin test in particular and hope that there was nothing untoward there.

"It felt like a pretty good test win. But people will always speculate now that this information has come to light."

Vettori felt the ICC was doing a good job making players aware of the ramifications of corruption in the sport and said he'd never been approached by bookmakers or asked to fix matches.

He said South African captain Hansie Cronje admitting to fixing results in 2000 had opened players' eyes to the sport's underbelly.

The Cronje debacle prompted the ICC to create its anti-corruption unit and Vettori said the sport had been far cleaner since.

"Obviously Stephen Fleming was approached some years ago now and he made that public [in 2004]," Vettori said.

"You hear of a few of the Aussie guys being approached – and I've spoken to them.

"But personally, I haven't been approached. Most guys have become extremely vigilant and avoid putting themselves in those situations."

- © Fairfax NZ News