Shocking - Brendan Taylor Admits to Not Reporting Spot-Fixing, Reveals Cocaine and Blackmail threats

Brendan Taylor, the former Zimbabwe captain, has taken to Twitter to state that he did not report corrupt approaches and that he was blackmailed and filmed consuming cocaine.

Brendan Taylor has revealed that he did not report corrupt approaches to the ICC. (Image credit: Twitter)
By Siddharth vishwanathan | Jan 24, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, has made a shocking statement on his Twitter handle. Taylor admitted that he failed to report in time to the ICC an approach to spot fix matches. All of this took place in 2019 when Taylor was lured to India to attend a party by an Indian businessman. It was to discuss sponsorship and the potential launch of a T20 competition in Zimbabwe. He was given an initial offer of USD 15,000. Once he went to the party in India, he ‘foolishly’ took cocaine. Once in his hotel room, he had six people waiting for him.

His cocaine consumption was filmed secretly. The video was shown to Taylor the next morning and he was given an ultimatum. If he did not agree to spot-fix matches, the video would be public.

Brendan Taylor Makes Startling Revelations

“I can’t deny I was a little wary. But the timing was such that we hadn’t been paid for six months by Zimbabwe cricket and it was questionable whether Zimbabwe would be able to continue playing in the international arena. 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. 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,” Taylor said.

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He further added, “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,” Taylor wrote in his Twitter handle

The backdrop to 2019 came at a time when Zimbabwe Cricket was plagued with a financial crisis. The board failed to pay the fees to the players. Earlier that year, Zimbabwe was banned by the ICC for excessive government interference in the Board. Thus, there was tremendous uncertainty financially for the players.

Brendan Taylor set to undergo Rehabilitation

Taylor was quick to point out that he was never involved in spot-fixing or any other kind of wrongdoings. The Zimbabwe skipper is set to go into rehabilitation from January 25. He has reported the matter to the ICC and is set to be banned for a long period. Taylor will not contest the charges and will accept it.

Taylor has revealed that the ordeal has had a severe impact on his physical and mental health. Statistically, Taylor is the most decorated Zimbabwe batsman and keeper in their history after Andy Flower. In 205 ODIs, he smashed 6684 runs at an average of 35 with 11 centuries. In Tests, he hit six centuries in 34 matches at an average of 36. Taylor made his debut in 2004 against Australia in Harare. He retired from international cricket after the end of the ICC World Cup 2015, scoring a century against India in Auckland.

After signing a three-year Kolpak deal for Nottinghamshire, Taylor came back to the Zimbabwe fold in 2019 and played against Bangladesh and Ireland in Tests and ODIs. In his last Test as captain against Bangladesh, he hit 81 and 92 against Bangladesh in Harare.





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