Fixing claims ‘absurd’, Cairnes

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns reacts to match-fixing allegations after being interviewed by police.

Cairns claims former NZ cricketer Lou Vincent's allegations to be 'despicable lies' [AFP]

Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns reiterated he was innocent of any involvement in matchfixing and described the accusations against him as ‘absurd, bizarre and scary’.

Cairns read out a statement at Auckland airport after returning from London, where he was interviewed at his own request by London police, English cricketing authorities and the anti-corruption unit of cricket’s world governing body, the ICC.

I have never match-fixed, sought to have others match-fix, or otherwise play the game of cricket in anything other than the spirit it so richly deserves to be played in.

by Chris Cairns, Former New Zealand cricketer

“I have never match-fixed, sought to have others match-fix, or otherwise play the game of cricket in anything other than the spirit it so richly deserves to be played in,” he said.

“Knowing what I now know of these allegations against me, I find the situation truly absurd, bizarre and scary.

The 43-year-old said former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent, who has admitted corruption and is assisting the ICC probe, had ‘betrayed’ his friendship and the allegations he and his ex-wife had made against Cairns were ‘despicable lies’.

McCullum was ‘misleading’

He also hit out at New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, saying it was ‘misleading’ to say he had reported an alleged approach by Cairns about matchfixing in a ‘timely fashion’ given he made the allegation in 2011, three years after it was supposed to have taken place.

McCullum’s evidence to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU), where he described being twice approached by a ‘Player X’, was leaked to a British newspaper earlier this month.

Cairns later said he thought he was ‘Player X’ but completely denied the allegations.

The ICC has said that McCullum is not under investigation for matchfixing and has commended his conduct in coming forward to give the evidence.

Cairns also said none of the three cricketers who were allegedly told by McCullum of the approach – Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills – had made ‘a direct accusation’ against him.

The involvement of London police results from a 2012 libel trial in the British High Court, when Cairns won damages from Indian cricket administrator Lalit Modi over accusations of corruption.

Source: Reuters