The not guilty verdict in the Chris Cairns perjury trial will make cricketers have second thoughts about coming forward to report match fixing approaches, says the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.
Chris Cairns arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. Photo: AFP
Cairns has been cleared of perjury and perverting the course of justice after being accused of lying under oath about match-fixing.
The Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum was the prosecution's leading witness saying he had been approached by Cairns in India to match fix.
The chief executive of the Players Association Heath Mills says some players will undoubtedly be scared off from coming forward in the wake of the trial.
"There'll be some players sitting back there thinking 'well why would I do that? Why would I report? And we completely understand that.
"The onus then goes on us to work with New Zealand Cricket and other organisations to find a better way because it can never be that the right answer is 'people are encouraged not to report."
Mills also called on the Government to work harder on eliminate match fixing if they're serious about protecting the integrity of the sport.
Mills said the Match Fixing bill introduced by the government last year doesn't go far enough in cleaning up the sport.
And he said it must be made easier for players wanting to report irregularities in the game.
"Sport in itself won't be able to come up with the answers and at all times we need to be improving our systems so we can make it easier and better and safer for people to come forward."
Mills said moving forward, the Players Association will continue to support Chris Cairns following the eight-week long trial.
Heath Mills, said they've supported Cairns throughout the investigation for the past two years and will continue to do so, should he need it.
"We offer support around understanding the rules and obligations in the match fixing codes, assisting to provide, find and source legal support if that's required but importantly support in times of financial hardship so if Chris or any of the other players involved need support in those areas then we're here."
