Paul Nixon said he was offered £5m for spot fixing to throw a T20 game between Leicester and Northampton © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Feb 19, 2012
Former England wicket-keeper Paul Nixon has revealed in a television interview that he was approached to throw a domestic T20 game two years ago.
Nixon in his book claimed that he was approached by an Asian businessman on behalf of bookmakers in May 2010. The wicket-keeper revealed that he was offered a handsome amount of £5m by the businessman.
The revelations come on the day the Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield becomes the first English cricketer to be sentenced for fixing elements in matches for the benefit of betting punters.
Nixon was quoted by Sky News as saying, “I was sort of befriended by a chap.
"We had a couple of meetings about other things, about a property development that I am involved with.
"We then met in a Leicester hotel. He said he had a business venture for me to look at. He offered me quite a considerable amount of money to throw a game, a 20-20 game, Leicester versus Northampton.
"He told me that they had to be television games that were going to be broadcast in India. And the money was many millions to fix that game.
"It was enormous money, life changing money."
Nixon said the fixers tried their best to lure him in their plans but he did not fall prey. He said, “They also offered me some money as a bit of a softener, as an introduction to it all.
"In the back of a car, it was in a suitcase in the car. So luckily I was a strong enough character to say no.”
