Some New Zealand cricketers have been allegedly involved in match-fixing, according to an English newspaper sting exposing a network of corrupt bookmakers.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched an inquiry after the Sunday Times in Britain revealed details of the network which claims to be able to fix the results of matches including international fixtures.
Undercover reporters posing as bookmakers were told by some of India's most influential bookmakers match-fixing was rife.
Players in the main cricketing nations all took part, the bookmakers claimed, and New Zealanders were currently being shopped around to bookmakers to help fix matches.
One bookmaker claimed to have fixed matches in 2010 with two New Zealand players whom he named. The newspaper did not publish the names.
Last night, New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills said the allegations were a slur on every player in New Zealand.
"There is no doubt that those who play on the subcontinent will inadvertently come into contact with people of ill repute.
"But I don't believe anyone I work with is or has ever been involved ... I would be highly surprised and bitterly disappointed if that was the case."
The allegations were very serious, he said, but no action would be taken until the alleged match fixers were named publicly.
"Until then I'm not willing to give any credibility to the claims ... the slur is completely and utterly unfair. They need to start putting up evidence or shut up."
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White slammed the allegations last night as not credible "whatsoever".
"We are not interested in unsubstantiated rumour or speculation, therefore we are not prepared to comment any further."
The Sunday Times said the match-fixers boasted of recruiting players from New Zealand, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to throw part or all of international fixtures. Last year's World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan is apparently one game under scrutiny.
Vicky Seth, one of Delhi's most influential bookmakers, told an undercover reporter match-fixing was rife and "will always carry on in cricket" because of the millions of dollars which changed hands after every match.
"It's easy to do as long as people don't talk ... Obviously the big money is to be made in big matches - Test matches, twenty/20s, the IPL [Indian Premier League] and BPL [Bangladeshi Premier League]."
In the secretly filmed meeting he claimed to have paid at least two New Zealand players to cheat.
"At the moment we've got connections with New Zealanders. I did some fixing with [names a player] and [names another player] back in 2010," he claimed.
"I met them direct in Delhi. [One] is still working with us. After that we got some Pakistani players."
Another bookie, known as Monubhai, claimed he had worked with players from most of the top cricketing nations and had recently been offered a chance to sign up New Zealanders.
"I was invited to strike a deal with some New Zealanders but I didn't go. The IPL starts on April 4, then everyone will be doing it [match fixing]," he said.
The Sunday Times investigation revealed a batsman would typically be offered 44,000 ($NZ84,000) for slow scoring, bowlers 50,000 ($95,000) to concede runs, and as much as 750,000 ($1.4 million) to players or officials who could guarantee the result of a match.
Indian law enforcement officials have called the level of corruption in cricket endemic, and in response to the investigation an ICC spokesman said betting on the cricket continued to grow.
Former Black Cap cricketer Chris Cairns is currently involved in a London court battle after allegations of match fixing were made against him by ex-Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi.
