Dinesh Mongia planning to take legal action against Lou Vincent

Mongia denied any wrongdoing and revealed that he is contemplating taking legal action against Vincent

Dinesh Mongia said that he is considering taking legal action against Lou Vincent who had sensationally claimed that the former Indian cricketer was involved in match-fixing, Times of India reports. The 38-year-old reiterated that he had done nothing wrong and challenged the former New Zealand cricketer to back his claims with evidence.

Vincent, who is currently testifying in the Chris Cairns’ perjury trial currently underway at a court in London, had taken the cricketing world by storm on Tuesday when he named Mongia as well as former national teammate Daryl Tuffey as compliances in fixing matches while playing for the Chandigarh Lions franchise in the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Mongia denied involvement in any wrongdoing and hinted that he could pursue legal action for the disrepute that has been brought upon him following Vincent’s comments.

"I totally deny these allegations. I played cricket at (the) top most level, I have done nothing wrong," he said. “I don't know what Mr. Vincent was doing then, what he is doing now. What kind of cricket he played with Chris Cairns or Cairns played with him. As far as I am concerned, I am totally clean. If there is anything Vincent has anything against me, let him come out with proof. I will consult with my legal team and decide what action needs to be initiated."

The Punjab cricketer played 57 ODIs and a single T20I for India before signing up for his home side, Chandigarh Lions, in the unsanctioned ICL. Talking about the T20 league, Mongia said that blaming the venture which provided many youngsters an opportunity to play at the highest level without any proof was unfortunate.

“Youngsters got a chance then and I too played for the league. After that IPL came, now, if someone says wrong things about IPL, this is not right,” he said.

Mongia’s ties with the ICL came to an end in mysterious circumstances as he was suspended from the league due to disciplinary issues, the reasons for which were never disclosed. However, Mongia strongly defended himself on the matter revealing that he had a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the league’s governing body.

"I have this No Objection Certificate given by ICL with me, they have given in writing that no parties have any claim on anybody," he said.

I don't know what the New Zealanders were doing: Mongia

Mongia said that he had no idea what the New Zealand players were up to even though they played in the same team

Vincent, who was banned from all cricket after admitting his involvement in match-fixing, had claimed on Tuesday that he was acting under direct orders from his skipper Chris Cairns – a statement that took Mongia by surprise.

"I would say if somebody like Vincent is making such a statement, then something is really wrong. As far as I am concerned, I have never had any problems with Vincent," he said.

Mongia, however, refused to buy Vincent’s claim that he had been suffering from depression at the time he indulged in match-fixing.

"Now, Tuffey's name has also cropped up. I don't know what kind of distress or depression Vincent is going through, about which I have come to know through the media," Mongia said further.

The former all-rounder sought to distance himself from the “gang of four” claim made by Vincent saying that he had no idea what the New Zealand trio were up to, even though they played in the same team.

“I don't know what the New Zealanders (Cairns, Tuffey, and Vincent) were doing. I have to admit that when I was playing with them (the Kiwis), I never ever imagined that they could be doing this kind of a thing," he said.