�Penniless� Cairns seeks answers as new action looms

AFP, WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand cricket star Chris Cairns, cleared of perjury charges over match-fixing, demanded answers Sunday for why current captain Brendon McCullum testified against him.
Cairns said years of litigation had left him penniless but he would continue to fight to clear his name, amid reports he would soon face a multi-million dollar fraud claim from Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League.
“Beat up, yes. Exhausted, yes. Penniless, yes. Will I continue to fight, absolutely,” the 45-year-old Cairns said in a column for Fairfax New Zealand.
The former all-rounder questioned why McCullum did not come forward before his 2012 libel trial when he successfully
sued Modi who tweeted that Cairns was linked to match-fixing.  Cairns’ statement in that hearing that he “never cheated at cricket” formed the basis of the recent perjury trial in which McCullum and former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent testified they were approached by Cairns to fix matches.
Although a London jury last week found Cairns not guilty of perjury, Modi is now reported to be planning a £1.5 million (US$2.27 million) fraud claim against him and to have the original libel verdict overturned.
A civil case requires a lower standard of proof than a criminal trial.
“McCullum and Vincent are his key witnesses in his civil case in London,” Cairns said.

�Penniless� Cairns seeks answers as new action looms

AFP, WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand cricket star Chris Cairns, cleared of perjury charges over match-fixing, demanded answers Sunday for why current captain Brendon McCullum testified against him. Cairns said years of litigation had left him penniless but he would continue to fight to clear his name, amid reports he would soon face a multi-million dollar fraud claim from Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League. Beat up, yes. Exhausted, yes. Penniless, yes. Will I continue to fight, absolutely, the 45-year-old Cairns said in a column for Fairfax New Zealand. The former all-rounder questioned why McCullum did not come forward before his 2012 libel trial when he successfully sued Modi who tweeted that Cairns was linked to match-fixing. Cairns statement in that hearing that he never cheated at cricket formed the basis of the recent perjury trial in which McCullum and former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent testified they were approached by Cairns to fix matches. Although a London jury last week found Cairns not guilty of perjury, Modi is now reported to be planning a 1.5 million (US$2.27 million) fraud claim against him and to have the original libel verdict overturned. A civil case requires a lower standard of proof than a criminal trial. McCullum and Vincent are his key witnesses in his civil case in London, Cairns said.