Match-fixing: No regrets for Brendon McCullum over leaked evidence

Wellington New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum on Thursday said he had no regrets about his leaked evidence to a corruption probe as cricket chiefs moved to muzzle the media and stop any more unhelpful revelationsBrendon McCullumMcCullum said he stood by his testimony to the International Cricket Council ICC in which he reportedly told investigators that a highprofile cricketer dubbed Player X unsuccessfully attempted to recruit him in a matchfixing scam in 2008The batsman said he was shocked when his allegations appeared in a British newspaper this week detailing a scandal that threatens to overshadow New Zealands preparations to cohost next years Cricket World Cup with AustraliaWhile ICC president Alan Isaac described the leak as totally unacceptable McCullum said he maintained confidence in the governing body and would continue to cooperateTheres still a long way to go I think he told reporters in Christchurch Obviously its been a number of years and the next little while will probably be quite tough as well but my involvement in the investigation is ongoingMcCullum declined to comment when asked if Black Caps great Chris Cairns was Player X Cairns this week acknowledged his name was being linked to Player X but strongly denied any involvement in corruption or matchfixingDespite his disappointment at the leak in Britains Daily Mail McCullum said he would not hesitate to recommend to any player who found themselves in the same situation to report the matter to the ICCFrom the dealings Ive had with the ICC group Ive dealt with I have confidence in them he saidThe ICC has launched an urgent investigation into the leak of testimony from McCullum former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent and Vincents exwife Eleanor RileyIsaac said the ICC had also commenced action in the British courts to try to stop further publication of evidence from the longrunning investigationWeve taken steps to injunct the media to try and stop them releasing any information that they have he told Radio New ZealandWere really just trying to stop them on the grounds I guess that its unhelpfulIsaac apologised to McCullum and stressed there was no suggestion he was under investigationShut it down quicklyReports first emerged in December that Cairns Vincent and another New Zealander Daryl Tuffey had been linked to a matchfixing probe and the recently leaked evidence fleshes out the allegationsThe matchfixing reportedly involves games in at least five countries from 20082012McCullum said he was offered up to pound107000 US180000 a match to underperform with Riley giving a dramatic description of driving to Birmingham in Britain with her thenhusband to collect matchfixing cash stuffed into a rucksackI just sat in the car and put the hoodie over my head because I was so worried and scared she said in testimony obtained by TVNZCairns and Tuffey both deny any wrongdoing while Vincent has reportedly admitted to fixing and agreed to give evidence in the hope of avoiding prosecutionNew Zealand batting legend Martin Crowe criticised the length of time it was taking the ICC to investigate claims dating back to 2008 and said the probe must be wrapped up before next years World CupI cant imagine a World Cup returning to these shores with these sorts of problems lingering he told the New Zealand HeraldTheyve got to be shut down quickly to allow us to prepare for the event of a lifetimeIsaac refused to guarantee the complex investigation would be finished in time for the tournament but denied it would cast a pall over the event saying corruption was more of a spectre in domestic T20 games than international matchesI think the public can be very confident in how the World Cup matches will be played he saidWe dont believe there have been too many problems at the international level for some time The real risk and the allegations tend to involve domestic leagues