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Simmons PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CANA -
FORMER West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons has denied any knowledge of West Indies players being involved in match-fixing.
"In all the years that I was playing cricket for the West Indies, we never had any cause to question anyone about match-fixing. We were always playing to win matches first and when that could not happen, only then we would look at a draw," Simmons said.
"We have to remember that a number of the players on the team during my time were there when the West Indies' winning record was in place and the habit of winning and being successful was very much in our mind, so we never thought about anything else," Simmons noted.
Simmons said he was very surprised about the names that were mentioned in the unsubstantiated CBI report.
"A lot of the names surprised me because I have played with some of these guys and would never have suspected. But I believe that people should be given the benefit of being innocent until there is evidence against them, and that is what is wrong with casting aspersions on people," Simmons said.
"People must understand that it is easy for all of the top names to be called in match-fixing, but that does not mean that these people are involved in anything.
"We should look at the West Indies and note how much success we have had in the past and the fact that we always take a pride in our performance. In my time I know we have been only thinking of the best for the game and I believe it has always been that way," added Simmons.
