The New Zealand captain’s testimony to the ICC’s anti-corruption security unit (ACSU), in which he revealed he had turned down offers to underperform, was leaked to the media on Monday.
This prompted New Zealand Cricket to state their “dismay” at the fact McCullum’s statement had been made public, while the body also stressed that the 32-year-old was not under investigation or suspicion of match-fixing.
And ICC chief executive David Richardson echoed those sentiments on Tuesday, while also revealing that a full-scale investigation as to how confidential information provided to the ACSU had been leaked.
“We are taking all steps available to us to urgently investigate how certain information in the form of statements has come to find its way into the media so that we can provide reassurances to the stakeholders within the sport so that they can continue to place their trust in the hands of the ACSU,” he said.
“Of course, we recognise that this is a deeply concerning development for the stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the sport of cricket, and we wish to emphasise that Brendon McCullum is not under investigation in this matter.
“Whilst we have privately offered our full support to Brendon, we do so now publicly not only to confirm that, by assisting with the ACSU’s enquiries, he has acted quite properly in accordance with his responsibilities as a professional cricketer, but also correct any misperception that he is somehow under suspicion.
“He is to be commended for his actions and we deeply regret that aspects of his statement are now in the public domain.”
Richardson was tight-lipped on ex-New Zealand opening batsman Lou Vincent, whose own statement to the ACSU has also become public knowledge.
Vincent and McCullum both claim to have been approached about match-fixing by a player dubbed ‘Player X’, with former Black Caps star Chris Cairns strenuously denying subsequent allegations that he was that man.
“Other than to confirm, as is already public, that Lou Vincent has co-operated fully with the ACSU’s investigators, it would not be appropriate for the ICC to comment on his position at this stage,” Richardson added.
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