HKCA chief Mike Walsh says Hong Kong Sixes match-fixing allegations being taken 'very seriously'
Cricket official responds to revelations from Lou Vincent in ICC probe, as HKCA waits to hear how event is said to have been affected
Every effort had been taken to ensure the Hong Kong Sixes was free of match-fixing and revelations by New Zealand's Lou Vincent that the showpiece tournament had been a victim of widespread international match-fixing were a serious issue, according to top Hong Kong official Mike Walsh.
"Of course, this alleged match-fixing hurts our reputation. The Hong Kong Sixes does not want to be associated with this sort of thing. We are very concerned about this," said Walsh, chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.
"The ICC hasn't got in touch with us and we will take advice from them.
It is an easy accusation to say the Hong Kong Sixes was also corrupted by match-fixing
"Obviously, we are a very small fish in the bigger picture with [Vincent] alleging that other events like the Indian Cricket League and tournaments in England had also been victim.
"But we can't afford to ignore this as it is a serious issue."
Disgraced New Zealand test cricketer Vincent, who has been under investigation since December by the ICC's anti-corruption unit, has revealed that the Hong Kong Sixes was a target of international match-fixing or spot-fixing syndicates.
The Daily Telegraph in London said Vincent had agreed to a plea bargain in the hope of avoiding a criminal prosecution for his involvement in and knowledge of spot-fixing in five or more countries over a four-year period between 2008-12.