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Vettori says ban cricket fixers for life

WELLINGTON— New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori says life bans should be imposed on players found to have fixed cricket matches, saying extreme steps must be taken to defend “the spirit of the game.”

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In his first public statement on allegations facing Pakistan cricket players, Vettori told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper that fans would question the validity of all results unless cricket quickly attacked corruption.

Vetorri said “if you’re caught, you have to be banned for life.”

He said the allegations that Pakistan players bowled no-balls at predetermined times had undermined cricket’s credibility.

“That’s the only way that you are going to stamp it out, and if these allegations are proven to be true there has to be a precedent set,” Vettori added.

“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?”

He hoped the current allegations against Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were untrue.

“But if not, if a clean up can come from it, then hopefully it will make cricket as squeaky clean as it can possibly be.”