13 Sep 2014

Cairns' perjury charges separate to ICC probe

6:29 am on 13 September 2014

In a statement, Cairns says he's been notified by the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom of their intention to lay charges against him on September 25th.

The charge relates to a defamation case in London in 2012 where Cairns was awared $180,000 in damages in damages and costs against Lalit Modi, the former boss of the Indian Premier League.

New Zealand Cricket's chief executive David White says in the statement he won't be making any comment on the matter until all proceedings have been concluded.

He says the charges are quite different from proceedings conducted by cricket authorities into match-fixing and corruption.

In July former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent was banned for life from the sport after admitting to the ICC he had been involved in match-fixing.

Cairns says he will be voluntarily travelling to the United Kingdom to be officially charged.

Chris Cairns

Chris Cairns Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Statement from Chris Cairns:

I can confirm that I have now been notified by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK that it is their intention to lay charges against me on 25 September for perjury.

I'm obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all.

I hope that, through this forum, significant additional information will be flushed out that will help people to better assess the situation, as well as the character and motives of the parties involved.

I wish this wasn't the situation - having been to Court before, I know what lies ahead and how gruelling it will be and how tough it is on my family - but I have nothing to hide and I will do whatever it takes to once again prove my innocence.

I will continue to co-operate fully with the authorities, including voluntarily travelling to the UK to face these changes.