Crowe will not talk to ICC

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe won't talk to the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit unless allegations against him are substantiated, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

Crowe is taking the same line as Australian Test batsman Mark Waugh who said on Monday he would refuse to be interviewed by the inquiry team.

Crowe's Wellington-based lawyer David Howman said Crowe has no intention of talking to anti-corruption director Sir Paul Condon when he makes his mid-February visit to New Zealand, unless allegations that Crowe took money for match information during the 1991 World Cup were substantiated.

Howman said he could understand where Waugh was coming from.

"Otherwise he's going to end up responding to allegations all his life," he said.

"Martin Crowe is not going to open his mouth either. We have cooperated all along and will continue to do so if the allegations come to anything but at the moment there is nothing to answer to."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Christopher Doig said he would be disappointed if Crowe declined to be interviewed.

"Martin Crowe and David Howman have indicated to New Zealand Cricket and the New Zealand inquiry team that they would cooperate fully," Doig said.

"I'm unaware of Sir Paul Condon making a request to speak to Martin Crowe but if he did so I think it would be unwise to refuse."

The match-fixing scandal - the complete story

Mail Cricket Editor