Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has responded to Brendan Taylor’s shocking revelation that he was approached by Indian businessman to ‘spot-fix’. With Taylor likely to get banned by International Cricket Council (ICC) for a few years because of delay in reporting corrupt advances, Ashwin used a metaphor to explain the situation and wished “all strength” to the former Zimbabwe skipper.
“Spread the awareness!! Most times the hand dealt to us at the poker table gives us an option to bet or fold!! Its important to fold and leave the table! All strength to Brendan and his family,” Ashwin wrote on Twitter in reply to Taylor’s tweet where he narrated the alleged incident from October 2019.
The 35-year-old said that he was invited to India by a businessman to discuss sponsorships and prospect of a new T20 league in Zimbabwe. But Taylor claims that during the celebratory dinner of the deal, the businessman lured him into doing “cocaine” and recorded a video. Next day, the businessman along with five other men blackmailed him with the video and forced him to take USD 15,000 as advance for spot-fixing.
Taylor said that he reported the alleged incident to the apex cricket board after four months. He felt that ICC would understand that he feared for his well being and family’s. Meanwhile, he was diagnosed with shingles and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication.
The Zimbabwe veteran also claimed that he has never been involved in any form of match-fixing as his love for the game is far greater. The Harare-born cricketer has also expected whatever punishment he faces going forward.
The wicketkeeper-batter led Zimbabwe in 37 ODIs, 16 Tests and 18 T20Is. He is also their second-highest run-scorer in ODIs after Andy Flower. He played 205 ODIs, 34 Tests and 45 T20Is for Zimbabwe. He has most number of ODI centuries (11) for Zimbabwe as well.
