Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor 'blackmailed to spot-fix matches after cocaine use'

Taylor played for Zimbabwe against Ireland.

Brendan Taylor says he was blackmailed into accepting a bribe to fix international games, but he never did.

Taylor said he was threatened by a businessman in India in October after they filmed him taking cocaine.

He said he has never taken part in match fixing.

Taylor said the International Cricket Council is banning him for a long time.

I would like to state that I have never been involved in match- fixing. Taylor, who retired from international cricket last year, said he was not a cheat.

"My love for the beautiful game of cricket far outweighs any threats which could be thrown my way."

An investigation is ongoing according to the International Cricket Council.

Taylor, one of Zimbabwe's best-known cricketers, said he would check into a rehabilitation facility on Tuesday to treat his substance abuse.

He described the last two years as "hell" and said that he had been diagnosed with shingles and prescribed strong anti-psychotic medication.

He said that he was trying to climb out of the mess he made.

I have let a substance take control of me and impair my vision, morals and values and it is time I prioritised what really matters.

Taylor, who has played 35 Tests, 205 one-day internationals and 45 Twenty20s for Zimbabwe, traveled to India to discuss a potential T20 league in his home country.

He said he was offered cocaine on the last night of the conversations.

The menstormed into his hotel room the next day and showed him a video of the drug use and said it would be made public if Taylor didn't fix it.

Taylor said he was given 15,000 dollars as a deposit and would be given an additional 20,000 dollars when the job was done.

Taylor said that he could not give a return on his investment.

I took the money to leave India. I had no choice but to say no because it was not an option.

I knew I had to leave.

Taylor said it took him four months to report the crime.

He acknowledged that it was too long of a time, but he thought he could protect his family.

The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code forbids players from accepting bribes to influence a match and requires all approaches to be reported without delay.

Taylor has accepted the charges and been offered sanctions by the governing body, but no final decision has been made.