{"id":53511,"date":"2022-01-24T22:22:12","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T20:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/?p=53511"},"modified":"2022-01-24T21:08:25","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T19:08:25","slug":"full-text-brendan-taylor-statement-on-match-fixing-icc-ban-cocaine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.cc\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/full-text-brendan-taylor-statement-on-match-fixing-icc-ban-cocaine","title":{"rendered":"FULL TEXT: Brendan Taylor Statement On Match-fixing, ICC Ban & Cocaine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. <\/strong><\/span>To my friends, family, supporters and the wider public.<\/b><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been carrying a burden for over 2 years now that has sadly taken me to some very dark places and had a profound effect on my mental health.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019ve only recently managed to start sharing my story with close friends and family and receive the love and support I guess I was too ashamed and frightened to seek in the first place.<\/p>\n

This may not make for comfortable reading but I would like to make a statement regarding a finding made by the ICC, which is soon to be released.<\/p>\n

In late October 2019, I was approached by an Indian businessman requesting that I attend India to discuss sponsorships and the potential launch of a T20 competition in Zimbabwe and was advised that I would be paid USD$15 000 to make the journey.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t deny I was a little wary. But the timing was such that we hadn\u2019t been paid for 6 months by Zimbabwe cricket and it was questionable whether Zimbabwe would be able to continue playing in the international arena.<\/p>\n

So I made the journey. The discussions took place, as he had said, and on our last night in the hotel, the businessman and his colleagues took me for a celebratory dinner.<\/p>\n

We had drinks and during the course of the evening they openly offered me cocaine, which they themselves engaged in, and I foolishly took the bait.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve gone over it a million times since and still feel sick to my stomach reliving that night and how they played me.<\/p>\n

The following morning, the same men stormed into my hotel room and showed me a video taken of me the night before doing cocaine and told me that if I did not spot fix at international matches for them, the video would be released to the public.<\/p>\n

I was cornered. And with 6 of these individuals in my hotel room, I was scared for my own safety. I\u2019d fallen for it. I\u2019d willingly walked into a situation that has changed my life forever.<\/p>\n

I was handed the USD$15 000 but was told this was now a \u2018deposit\u2019 for spot-fixing and that an additional USD$20 000 would be paid once the \u201cjob\u201d was complete. I took the money so I could get on a plane and leave India.<\/p>\n

I felt I had no choice at the time because saying no was clearly not an option. All I knew was I had to get out of there.<\/p>\n

When I returned home, the stress of what had taken place severely impacted my mental and physical health. I was a mess. I was diagnosed with shingles and prescribed strong antipsychotic medication \u2013 amitriptyline.<\/p>\n

The \u2018businessman\u2019 wanted a return on his investment which I could not and would not give. It took me 4 months to report this offence and interaction to the ICC.<\/p>\n

I acknowledge this was too long of a time but I thought I could protect everyone and in particular, my family.<\/p>\n

I approached the ICC on my own terms and I hoped that if I explained my predicament, my genuine fear for our safety and wellbeing, they would understand the delay.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, they did not, but I cannot feign ignorance in this regard. I have attended many anti-corruption seminars over the years and we know that time is of the essence when making reports.<\/p>\n

I would like to place on record that I have never been involved in any form of match-fixing. I may be many things but I am not a cheat.<\/p>\n

My love for the beautiful game of cricket far outweighs and surpasses any threats which could be thrown my way.<\/p>\n

As a result of approaching the ICC, I attended multiple interviews and engagements and was as honest and transparent as I could be during their investigations.<\/p>\n

Inside and outside I was beating myself up and I still wish I had sought support and advice earlier for a multitude of reasons.<\/p>\n

That being said, the ICC is taking the decision to impose a multi-year ban on my international cricketing career.<\/p>\n

I humbly accept this decision and only hope that my story will be used as a means of encouragement for cricketers to report any approaches early.<\/p>\n

I will admit that the past two years have been incredibly challenging, both personally and professionally and it is from absolute rock bottom that I am trying to climb out of this mess!<\/p>\n

My family and friends have been incredibly supportive of me and it is clear to me now that I have a much bigger problem that for some time has needed addressing.<\/p>\n

And so I would also like to let you know that on Tuesday the 25th of January I am checking into a rehabilitation centre to get clean and to get my life back on track.<\/p>\n

I have to tell my story now because I know people will want to hear from me. To try and understand what led to this point. But for many weeks I will be away and trying to get better.<\/p>\n

I owe it to myself and to my family to get clean and to put them first. I have let a substance take control of me and impair my vision, my morals and my values and it is time that I prioritise what really matters.<\/p>\n

I also hope my story inspires someone who hears it, to get the help that they need. I had not realized that coming forward and talking would give me so much relief from the hell I have found myself in for years.<\/p>\n

Drugs and narcotics do not discriminate and it took all that I have to admit that I have a problem.<\/p>\n

To end I need to let you know I am sorry for those I have hurt. I am sorry for those I have let down.<\/p>\n

I would like to thank my family, my friends and my supporters for always being there. I have learnt the true meaning of loyalty.<\/p>\n

The greatest honour that can be bestowed, is to captain and represent one\u2019s country and for this, I am eternally grateful.<\/p>\n

I am also grateful for what this experience has taught me. I am grateful for my four beautiful children, my loving and supportive wife, my health and the clarity I now have to want to be a better version of myself.<\/p>\n

Brendan Taylor<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. To my friends, family, supporters and the wider public. I\u2019ve been carrying a burden for over 2 years now that has sadly taken me to some very dark places and had a profound effect on my mental health. And I\u2019ve only recently managed to start sharing my story with close friends and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":53510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,35,16,15],"tags":[1493,2189,6290,8250,543,760,4217,8251,19],"class_list":{"0":"post-53511","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-homepage-english","9":"category-sport","10":"category-twitter","11":"tag-africa-press","12":"tag-africa-press-zimbabwe-2","13":"tag-brendan-taylor","14":"tag-brendon-taylor","15":"tag-cricket","16":"tag-icc","17":"tag-icc-ban","18":"tag-match-fixing","19":"tag-zimbabwe"},"yoast_head":"\nFULL TEXT: Brendan Taylor Statement On Match-fixing, ICC Ban & Cocaine - zimbabwe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To my friends, family, supporters and the wider public. 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